A new report reveals that a high-ranking Justice Department official is investigating several pardons issued by former President Joe Biden during the final days of his presidency.
According to Reuters, pardon attorney Ed Martin—formerly the U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C.—informed staff via email that he is examining Biden’s last-minute clemency decisions. These include pardons granted to Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, as well as to James Biden, Frank Biden, Valerie Biden Owens, and their spouses, despite none of them facing formal charges.
Additionally, Biden pardoned a number of prominent Democrats known for clashing with former President Donald Trump and commuted the sentences of multiple federal death row inmates.
Martin stated the probe is focused on determining whether Biden “was competent and whether others were taking advantage of him through use of AutoPen or other means.”
The use of an autopen—a device that replicates the president’s signature—has been a controversial topic. Several reports suggest Biden’s aides may have employed the device without his knowledge or authorization.
A recent book has further fueled concerns, questioning whether Biden’s apparent physical and cognitive decline toward the end of his term led to staff or family members making key decisions in his stead.
Martin’s investigation centers on pardons issued to Biden’s relatives and on 37 clemency cases involving death row inmates. His email did not provide further details.
Reuters reached out to the Justice Department for comment but had received no response as of Tuesday morning.
Earlier this year, the New York Post reported that an unnamed Biden aide used the autopen to sign official documents without verifying Biden’s approval. One former staffer allegedly justified the action by saying it was what “the boss” wanted, though others were unsure if that was accurate.
Alex Thompson of Axios, who co-authored a recent book on Biden’s presidency, told the New York Post that aides believed it was their duty to “pick up the slack” for the president. He said, “These were unelected people… if you believe—and I think a lot of these people do sincerely believe—that Donald Trump was and is an existential threat to democracy, you can rationalize anything, including sometimes doing undemocratic things.”
Thompson referred to this inner circle as a “politburo,” reportedly including Jill Biden, Hunter Biden, and aides Mike Donilon, Steve Ricchetti, and Bruce Reed.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has announced that the committee plans to request transcribed interviews with Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Biden’s physician, and former White House officials Neera Tanden, Anthony Bernal, Annie Tomasini, and Ashley Williams.
According to a committee press release, the investigation into Biden’s physical and mental health is “part of the investigation into the cover-up of President Joe Biden’s mental decline and potentially unauthorized use of autopen for sweeping pardons.”
