NBC News has learned that the Justice Department is ending its investigation into President Biden's use of the autopin while in office. President Trump claims Biden used an autopen signature on some of his executive orders to hide his cognitive decline. Biden has pushed back on these allegations, saying, quote, "I made the decisions during my presidency. ...

We got to get to that breaking news we told you about right before the commercial there. The Justice Department is now apparently shelving an investigation into former President Biden's use of an auto pen. According to somebody briefed on the matter, talking to NBC News, this is a setback for President Trump.Remember, he has over and over again slammed his predecessor for using the autopen to sign stuff. I want to bring in Ryan Riley, who's on the team of this reporting along with Armonic Alba. What What do ...

Authorization Concerns - Unauthorized personnel may be present [1] - The authenticity of signatures is questioned, possibly involving an autopen [1] - The autopen might have signed multiple documents, potentially all four, but at least two [1] Investigation Needed - An investigation into the signing process is necessary [1]

Compliance Concerns - Potential unauthorized use of autopen for signing commissions [1][2] - Need to investigate who signed the commissions and whether the autopen was used appropriately [1][2] - Importance of strong authorization and demonstrating competence when using an autopen [1] Operational Risks - Risk of having unauthorized personnel in positions of authority [2] - Concern that not being strict enough could lead to problems [2] - Requirement to verify the signatures on the commissions [2]

Retaliation and Abuse of Power - The report highlights a significant number, at least 470, of individuals and entities facing retaliation under President Trump's leadership [1][28][29] - The actions are designed to intimidate others and suppress dissent, even when legal challenges are unsuccessful [31][32] Legal and Constitutional Concerns - Trump's claim to invalidate pardons signed by President Biden using an autopen is baseless, as legal experts confirm the use of an autopen is legal and the Constitution doesn't require signatures on pardons [13][14] - The legality of a potential military action in Venezuela is questioned, with concerns raised about potential war crimes and violations of international law [17][18][19][20][23] - The president's authority to declare another nation's airspace off-limits is challenged [22] Pardons and Accountability - Trump could potentially issue pardons to eliminate liability for individuals involved in controversial strikes, raising concerns about accountability [24][25] - Even with potential pardons, individuals may still face legal risks under domestic laws of South American countries or international law [27]

Allegations and Investigations - Congressional Republicans, particularly House Oversight Chair James Comr, have focused on Joe Biden's alleged improper use of an autopen [1][2] - James Comr is leading a congressional investigation into Biden's use of an autopen [2] Standard Practices and Rebuttals - The use of autopens for routine matters has been standard practice among modern presidents from both parties, including Trump [1] - Biden has insisted that nothing was signed without his direct knowledge and approval [2] - The Oversight Committee spokesperson stated that using digital signatures on correspondence is standard practice [4] Hypocrisy Allegations - James Comr has been using a digitally inserted signature on correspondence to voluntary and subpoenaed witnesses, essentially an online autopen [3] - The digitally inserted signature used by Comr was created by someone other than himself [3]