…says it’s legal
By Hassanat Adebowale
U.S. President Donald Trump has declared the preemptive pardons issued by former President Joe Biden for members of the committee investigating the January 6, 2021 Capitol unrest as “void.” Trump made the announcement on Monday via his Truth Social platform, questioning the legality of the pardons and alleging they were improperly executed.
“The ‘pardons’ that Biden gave to the committee, and many others, are hereby declared void, vacant, and of no further force or effect, because they were done by Autopen,” Trump stated. He further claimed that Biden was unaware of the pardons and suggested that those responsible for signing the documents on Biden’s behalf may have committed a crime.
Trump also vowed to launch a high-level investigation into the matter, targeting individuals he believes were involved in the alleged unauthorized signing of the pardon documents.
The January 6, 2021 incident saw pro-Trump demonstrators breach the Capitol, disrupting the certification of the 2020 presidential election results, which declared Biden the winner. The event led to hundreds of arrests and charges related to the riot. During his presidency, Trump issued pardons to over 1,500 individuals, including some linked to the unrest.
On his final day in office, January 20, 2025, Biden issued preemptive pardons for members of the select committee investigating the Capitol attack. The move was reportedly intended to shield committee members and other officials from potential retaliation after Biden left the White House.
By rejecting Biden’s pardons, Trump has opened the door to what could become a significant legal and constitutional battle over whether a sitting president can overturn executive clemency granted by a predecessor.
Presidential pardons are generally considered final and irreversible, but Trump’s claims about the use of an autopen have raised questions about the legitimacy of pardons issued without direct presidential approval.
If Trump proceeds with an investigation, it could lead to a legal clash over the limits of executive power and the authority surrounding presidential pardons. Some analysts believe that if Trump attempts to prosecute committee members despite Biden’s pardons, the matter could ultimately land in the Supreme Court.
For now, Trump’s statement remains a political move, but legal experts are closely watching to see if it escalates into formal legal action.
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