Critics say Hunter Biden is believed to have orchestrated multiple autopen pardons to sideline Jill Biden and position himself as family leader amid Joe Biden’s decline, sources told the National Enquirer. President Trump called on the Justice Department to investigate and warned autopen use equates to the signer’s authority.
Autopen controversy
Sources say Hunter was driving force behind his father signing off on pardons for family members—except stepmother Jill—via autopen. National Enquirer tipsters describe a calculated move to undermine Jill’s influence and shift power toward Hunter and potential control of Joe’s $10 million estate.
Family fortune tug‑of‑war
With Joe Biden’s prostate cancer and cognitive decline tightening, insiders report Hunter is scheming to become conservator of his father’s affairs. The move would exclude Jill and set stage for legal battles over the family fortune. One National Enquirer source called it “Macbethian.”
Trump seized on the scandal to demand action, calling the autopen use “a crime” and claiming whoever used the device held presidential power. He urged the DOJ and Republican-led House Oversight Committee to interview Biden’s physician, Kevin O’Connor.
Political and legal storm
The DOJ reportedly plans to question former White House doctor Kevin O’Connor about Joe Biden’s health and autopen pardons. Meanwhile, the House committee prepares to investigate Biden’s mental state during his term, focusing on medical credentials and advisement.
In late 2024 and early 2025, Joe Biden issued pardons via autopen to his brothers James and Frank, sister Valerie and brother-in-law John Owens, plus James’ wife Sara and Hunter himself for tax and gun convictions. One defense described the pardons as a shield from “unrelenting partisan attacks.”
Insider bombshell
Book “Original Sin” characterizes Hunter as “demonstrably unethical” and treating himself like a chief of staff, National Enquirer sources say. Trump allies argue Jill’s exclusion from pardons and Hunter’s maneuvers amount to elder abuse and manipulation. Conservative attorney Leo Terrell wants Jill prosecuted.
Biden dismissed allegations as “ridiculous and false,” claiming he signed all decisions personally. But a looming tell-all by former press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre threatens to challenge that position by detailing evidence of Biden’s diminishing capacity to lead.
Investigation ahead
As the DOJ and Congress intensify scrutiny, tension in the Biden family and the White House may explode. With Trump calling for action and new memoirs emerging, scrutiny on Hunter’s role and the legitimacy of the pardons is set to escalate—raising the question: who really wielded power in Joe Biden’s final days?
Jaja has a degree in journalism and took classes in international law and business communication. Her career spans roles at prominent international media outlets, including International Business Times, Celebeat and Delightful Philippines. As a news editor, Jaja covered a wide range of beats, including legal, business, economy, cryptocurrency, personal finance, gaming, technology, and entertainment.