Washington D.C. – The White House is facing scrutiny following revelations regarding the use of an autopen machine to sign photographs presented to attendees of events,sparking criticism that President Biden is distancing himself from personal engagement. The practice came to light during a House Committee on Oversight inquiry into the President’s schedule and interactions.
Autopens, devices that mechanically replicate signatures, have a long history of use by U.S. Presidents dating back to Thomas Jefferson after the device was patented in 1803, and have been utilized by administrations including those of Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson. However, the current application has drawn concern as it appears to be a widespread practice for signed photos, raising questions about the authenticity of the President’s personal touch.
Ian Sams, a former spokesperson in the Biden White House, testified in August before the House Committee on Oversight, stating he only met with the former President twice in-person, along with one phone call and a virtual meeting. Following Sams’ testimony, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform chairman James Comer (R-KY) vowed to continue the inquiry, stating, “We are pressing for answers to ensure full transparency for the American people.”
Comer further claimed that Sams ”received much of his direction from the White House Counsel and Biden’s inner circle,” and that Sams “repeatedly made broad public claims about the President’s cognitive condition, but he was not in a position to make these claims based on such limited contact.” The controversy echoes past debates surrounding the use of autopens, including criticism leveled during the Trump governance, as reported by Time magazine.
