Former President Joe Biden experienced such “cognitive decline” while in office that it remains a serious question as to whether he was aware of the substance of the various pardons and commutations signed in his name via autopen, the GOP-controlled House Oversight Committee asserted in a letter it sent to Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging her to consider whether that clemency might be invalid and to take action for potential prosecution against some of Biden’s aides.

The committee “deems void President Biden’s executive actions that were signed using the Autopen, and the committee determines that action by the Department of Justice is warranted to address the legal consequences of that determination,” it wrote to Bondi released Tuesday morning.

  • IninewCrow@lemmy.caEnglish
    35·
    2 days ago

    more like another step in unravelling any and all of American government’s legitimacy

    • rafoix@lemmy.zip
      91·
      2 days ago

      It wasn’t too long ago when the US gave telecommunication companies retroactive immunity for spying on Americans. There are already way too many options for presidential immunity, pardons and commutations that are used to protect criminals from prosecution.

      The GOP is already a full kleptocratic organization with zero intent to govern for the good of Americans.

      • edible_funk@lemmy.world
        7·
        2 days ago

        Honestly? That’s a separate discussion. This is the Republicans and the president effectively openly telling us all they’re never leaving power again. Because you know they would not stand for a Democratic administration having that power.

      • TachyonTele@piefed.socialEnglish
        3·
        1 day ago

        They should yes. They’re for rescuing people caught in the system that shouldn’t be.

        They are not supposed to be what they’re used for in the modern era .

        • iamanurd@midwest.socialEnglish
          2·
          1 day ago

          I’d feel a whole lot better if there were a system tha would prevent autocrats from just bailing out their rich friends & acquaintances…

          • socsa@piefed.socialEnglish
            3·
            1 day ago

            It cuts both ways. It gives authoritarians the ability to do corruption, and it gives actual stewards of the law the ability to undo huge amounts of damage done by authoritarians. The idea is that the voters are meant to pick which one they prefer. If the voters can’t make that decision, or the system collapses then the pardon power doesn’t really matter anyway.