The Kentucky Republican heading up the investigation into former President Joe Biden's use of the "autopen" to sign documents sent out his own correspondence related to the probe that was "signed" digitally, according to a report.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly tried to call Biden's actions into question by saying his use of "autopen" to sign official documents was scandalous, and Rep. James Comer (R-KY) has folded those concerns into his investigation of the former president's cognitive state – despite making use himself of the same time-saving technology, reported NBC News.
"Comer’s committee has taken up Trump’s push in Congress," the network reported. "He has sent 16 letters to former Biden White House officials requesting transcribed interviews. In all 16 of those letters, metadata reveals his signature was a digital picture inserted into the letter."
The lawmaker also sent letters to former White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Conner and Jill Biden senior aide Anthony Bernal forcing them to appear by subpoena, but the cover letters for each were signed with digital images rather than what's called a "wet," or hand-written, signature, and NBC reported that metadata from the letters show they were created by someone besides Comer.
“Using digital signatures for official correspondence is a common practice for both Republicans and Democrats in the House of Representatives," said a spokeswoman from the House Oversight Committee. "Chairman Comer has never hidden the fact that he uses a digital signature when appropriate, and he approves all official correspondence that is signed digitally."
"Legally binding subpoenas issued by Chairman Comer always bear a wet signature and are never signed using an autopen or digital signature," the spokeswoman added. "Comparing Chairman Comer’s use of digital signatures for letters to the unauthorized use of an autopen in the Biden White House for legally binding executive actions is absurd and misleading. The two are not even remotely comparable.”
Digital signatures have been commonly used in Washington for decades, and congressional offices have for years designated staffers to sign electronic documents on behalf of lawmakers, and even Comer has acknowledged "autopen" use can be acceptable, but not for "legal documents."
“Presidents use the autopen, just like I use an autopen, or [Rep.] Jim Jordan or anyone else in Congress to sign correspondence to the massive amounts of messages that you get,” Comer told Newsmax this month. “But no one uses an autopen for legal documents. I can’t use an autopen to sign subpoenas. That’s my legal document. Subpoenas. I have to fly back to Washington, D.C., just to sign one piece of paper.”
Biden has insisted he made every decision he signed off on as president and defended his autopen usage as necessary to keep with the volume of clemency requests received by his administration, but Comer and his committee are looking into whether some documents were signed without his knowledge.
“Comer using an autopen to investigate an autopen is just so James," said Rep. Jared Moskowitz (DFL), sarcastically. "That’s what we love about him, his attention to detail."