EXPOSED: Biden's Autopen Scandal Reveals Shadow Presidency, Investigation Shows

Recent findings about President Biden's signature practices have opened a fascinating window into modern presidential administration. As someone who's covered Washington for decades, I find the Heritage Foundation's investigation into Biden's autopen usage particularly telling - not necessarily for the conclusions they draw, but for what it reveals about our evolving executive branch.

Let's get something straight: autopens aren't new. I remember watching staffers wheel out Truman's contraption during a museum tour years ago. But what's striking here isn't the technology - it's the pattern of usage and its broader implications.

The Heritage Foundation's Oversight Project makes a bold claim: "WHOEVER CONTROLLED THE AUTOPEN CONTROLLED THE PRESIDENCY." While that's attention-grabbing, the reality is more nuanced. What caught my eye was the curious contrast between routine documents bearing identical mechanical signatures and Biden's 2024 withdrawal announcement featuring his apparent handwritten signature.

House Speaker Mike Johnson's account of his interaction with Biden adds another wrinkle. Johnson describes a president seemingly unaware of his own policy on natural gas exports - a moment that left him wondering about executive decision-making. I've seen presidents confused about details before, but forgetting a major policy decision? That's different.

Here's where it gets interesting: During the Obama years, the Justice Department gave autopen usage their legal blessing. George W. Bush, ever the traditionalist, wouldn't touch the thing. Having covered both administrations, I can tell you their approaches reflected their broader governing philosophies.

The current controversy peaked after that June 2024 debate with Trump - you know the one. Biden's performance raised eyebrows even among loyal Democrats. Within weeks, he withdrew from the race, signing off (quite literally, it seems) with one of his few manual signatures.

Missouri AG Andrew Bailey wants the DOJ to investigate whether Biden's "cognitive decline" let staff implement policies without his genuine approval. That's politically charged language, but it raises legitimate questions about presidential capacity and administrative authority.

Look, every modern presidency relies heavily on staff. That's not new. What's unprecedented is the combination of near-exclusive autopen usage, documented moments of presidential confusion, and the broader questions these raise about executive function.

From where I sit, this isn't just about signatures or even about Biden specifically. It's about how we adapt our understanding of presidential power to modern realities. When does administrative efficiency cross the line into diminished accountability? That's the real question we should be asking.

The autopen controversy might seem technical, but it cuts to the heart of how our democracy functions. As we continue examining these issues, we'd do well to remember that the presidency has always been more than just one person - it's an institution. Perhaps it's time to have a frank discussion about how that institution operates in the 21st century.