![\"C26.BREAKING](\"https:\/\/news2.watchtowatch.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Screenshot_2-1762738934-q80.webp\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
On September 15, 2024, former U.S. President Donald Trump narrowly survived a second assassination attempt, an event that once again underscored the grim reality of violence in American political life. His survival adds his name to the long and unsettling list of presidents and former presidents who have faced life-threatening attacks. These moments are not isolated\u2014they form a disturbing pattern that stretches across the nation\u2019s history, reminding Americans of the risks that come with occupying or even having occupied the highest office in the land.<\/p>\n
Since the United States was founded, forty-five men have served as president. Startlingly, nearly 40 percent of them have faced assassination attempts. Four were fatally struck down while in office: Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, William McKinley, and John F. Kennedy. Others were injured or narrowly spared by chance or the intervention of bystanders. Each attack tells a story of discontent, obsession, or personal grievance, but all serve as reminders that the presidency is not just a political role but a dangerous one.<\/p>\n
Presidents, by the nature of their position, are more than individuals. They become symbols\u2014living embodiments of the nation\u2019s values, policies, and direction. Admiration from supporters comes with equal and opposite hostility from detractors.<\/p>\n
For some, attacking a president or former president becomes a twisted way of making a statement or leaving a mark on history. Recent events involving Trump reflect this dangerous dynamic. In July 2024, he was injured in a shooting during a rally in Pennsylvania, an attack that sent shockwaves across the political spectrum. Just months later, while playing golf in Florida, his security team exchanged fire with an armed suspect in another attempt on his life. These incidents are modern echoes of a historical pattern where presidents repeatedly find themselves at the center of targeted violence.<\/p>\n
Firearms have been the most common weapon in presidential assassination attempts. With few exceptions, almost every assailant throughout history has been male. Their motives, however, have varied widely. Some acted out of political anger or revolutionary zeal. Others were driven by delusions, personal vendettas, or misguided attempts at notoriety. In Trump\u2019s case, what stands out is that both recent attackers were reportedly former supporters who had turned against him\u2014an unusual twist compared to older historical examples where most assailants were ideological opponents rather than disillusioned followers.<\/p>\n
History offers sobering lessons about how fragile leadership can be in the face of violence.<\/p>\n
The assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865 was not a lone act of hatred but part of a broader conspiracy. That same night, Secretary of State William Seward was stabbed in his own home, though he survived. Vice President Andrew Johnson was also targeted, though his attacker lost his nerve. The conspiracy aimed to decapitate the Union government in a single night, plunging the country into chaos at the end of the Civil War. The plan ultimately failed, but it underscored how the removal of a single figurehead could be perceived as a path to destabilization.<\/p>\n
Later presidents faced their own brushes with death. Gerald Ford, for example, survived not one but two assassination attempts in 1975, both carried out by women\u2014an anomaly in presidential history. The first, Lynette \u201cSqueaky\u201d Fromme, a follower of Charles Manson, pointed a gun at Ford in Sacramento to protest environmental issues but failed to fire because she had not chambered a round. Just 17 days later, Sara Jane Moore fired two shots at Ford in San Francisco. One bystander, Oliver Sipple, acted heroically by deflecting her aim, saving Ford\u2019s life and preventing what might have been another national tragedy.<\/p>\n
Ronald Reagan, too, narrowly escaped death in 1981 when John Hinckley Jr. opened fire outside a Washington hotel. Reagan was hit by a ricocheted bullet that pierced his lung. What followed became part of Reagan\u2019s enduring legend\u2014his resilience, calm demeanor, and even his wit while recovering. His quip to surgeons, \u201cI hope you\u2019re Republicans,\u201d captured the nation\u2019s imagination and demonstrated how humor and strength can reassure a country even in its most vulnerable moments.<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s recent experiences highlight how the threat has evolved in the modern era. Information travels faster than ever, ideological divides are amplified by digital platforms, and individuals motivated by disillusionment or conspiracy theories can radicalize quickly. Despite advanced security measures, the role remains perilous. The fact that a former president, still an active political figure,<\/p>\n
has survived multiple attempts in such a short span of time illustrates both the resilience of protective institutions like the Secret Service and the persistent risks leaders face.<\/p>\n
Assassination attempts are not simply attacks on individuals.<\/p>\n
They represent challenges to democracy itself. Each time violence erupts, the country is forced to confront the fragility of its political system and the dangers of allowing anger, extremism, or despair to escalate into bloodshed. They reveal the tension between freedom of expression and the darker impulses of those who use violence to silence, punish, or destabilize.<\/p>\n
Yet, history also shows the resilience of American democracy. While violence has scarred its timeline, the nation has continually rebounded. Institutions endure, successors step forward, and moments of unity often follow tragedy.<\/p>\n
After each attempt, stories of heroism, solidarity, and perseverance emerge\u2014whether it is a bystander tackling an assailant, medical teams working tirelessly to save lives, or communities rallying together in the wake of loss.<\/p>\n
The story of assassination attempts on American presidents is one of both vulnerability and resilience. They remind us that those who step into positions of leadership accept not only the responsibility of governance but also the personal risks that come with embodying the nation itself. Trump\u2019s survival in 2024 reinforces this sobering truth. While presidents and former presidents remain vulnerable to attack,<\/p>\n
the American system\u2014its people, its institutions, and its democratic ideals\u2014has consistently shown the strength to withstand even its darkest moments.<\/p>\n
The suspect, 64-year-old Anibal Hernandez-Santana, was arrested by the FBI on Saturday, a day after the drive-by shooting at ABC 10 in Sacramento. He had been taken into custody earlier by local police and charged with multiple offenses, including assault with a deadly weapon, but was rearrested by federal agents just hours after posting $200,000 bail.<\/p>\n
Justice Department officials on Monday said investigators found a note in Hernandez-Santana\u2019s car. The note, according to law enforcement, said: \u201cFor hiding Epstein & ignoring red flags. Do not support Patel, Bongino, & AG Pam Bondi. They\u2019re next. \u2014 C.K. from above.\u201d<\/p>\n
Details about the note come after Variety reported that Hernandez-Santana\u2019s X account contained \u201ca steady stream of anti-Trump commentary.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is a good heart attack when we need it the most?? Please Join in my thoughts and prayers for the physical demise of our fearful leader,\u201d Hernandez-Santana posted last week.<\/p>\n
Variety also found posts from July in which Hernandez-Santana wrote he was ready to \u201cfight like hell\u201d against the Trump administration.<\/p>\n
His attorney, Mark Reichel, told Sacramento\u2019s KCRA 3 that his client is facing heightened scrutiny because of his anti-Trump comments.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you look at his social media, they\u2019re going to say, \u2018Boy, it sure shows that he\u2019s liberal and left wing.\u2019 So you think they\u2019re going to overlook something like that? I don\u2019t think so,\u201d Reichel said.<\/p>\n
After local authorities allowed Hernandez-Santana out on bail, he was re-arrested by the FBI on federal charges on Monday, where he remains behind bars. Patel noted on the X platform Monday the suspect was taken into custody \u201cunder a federal hold for interference with licensed broadcasts.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTargeted acts of violence are unacceptable and will be pursued to the fullest extent of the law,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n
The shooting occurred in the early hours of Sept. 19, a day after roughly 15 people gathered outside ABC 10 to protest Jimmy Kimmel\u2019s suspension, according to the Sacramento Bee. Kimmel\u2019s show was suspended after he suggested the man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk was a Trump supporter.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them,\u201d Kimmel said on his show last Monday.<\/p>\n
Kimmel faced backlash for the claim, as reports identified the suspected shooter, Tyler Robinson, 22, as having leftist ties. Robinson was said to be in a relationship with a transgender roommate, had used phrases linked to Antifa, and, in text messages released last Tuesday, claimed he shot Kirk because of the conservative activist\u2019s \u201chatred.\u201d<\/p>\n
Erika Kirk, Charlie\u2019s widow, spoke about the time she saw her husband\u2019s body in the hospital after he was killed. She also told him the \u201csecret\u201d she had kept from him her whole life.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis eyes were semi-open and he had this knowing, Mona Lisa-like half-smile. Like he\u2019d died happy. Like Jesus rescued him. The bullet came, he blinked, and he was in heaven,\u201d Erika Kirk told the New York Times.<\/p>\n
While speaking at her husband\u2019s memorial service in Glendale, Ariz., in Sunday, she told the packed stadium the \u2018secret\u2019 she had kept.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut there was something else. Even in death, I could see the man that I love. I saw the one, single gray hair on the side of his head, which I never told him about. Now he knows. Sorry, baby, I\u2019m telling you now,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI also saw on his lips the faintest smile. And that told me something important. It revealed to me a great mercy from God in this tragedy. When I saw that, it told me Charlie didn\u2019t suffer. Even the doctor told me \u2014 it was something so instant,\u201d Erika added.<\/p>\n
The image of a Secret Service agent asleep in public while on duty at the U.N. General Assembly, leaving a fully automatic rifle unattended, became a symbol of the agency\u2019s DEI-driven decline under the Biden administration. This agent, overweight and unable to meet fitness standards, had been retained due to politically motivated quotas rather than merit, raising questions about the agency\u2019s ability to protect President Trump.<\/p>\n
When Sean Curran took over as director of the Secret Service, he faced an agency undermined by years of cronyism, mismanagement, and DEI priorities that had placed optics over operational readiness.<\/p>\n
Curran, a veteran from Trump\u2019s campaign detail, immediately set out to restore the agency\u2019s elite status, focusing on accountability, merit-based promotions, and core mission priorities.<\/p>\n
Two assassination attempts on Trump\u2019s life, followed by evasive explanations from the previous leadership, exposed the vulnerabilities created by DEI policies and a lax culture.<\/p>\n
Under former director Kimberly Cheatle, initiatives like \u201c30\u00d730\u201d prioritized hiring women to meet quotas, sometimes at the expense of physical fitness and protective experience. Overweight agents who could not pass standard fitness tests were retained, creating obvious security risks.<\/p>\n
Curran has shifted the Office of Equity and Employee Support Services back to its original Equal Employment Opportunity mission, eliminating DEI mandates while still addressing legitimate workplace grievances.<\/p>\n
Critics, however, continue to scrutinize Curran\u2019s decision to retain DEI advocates like Darnelly De Jesus, who oversee disciplinary actions, citing potential conflicts of interest and lingering influence from prior leadership.<\/p>\n
Despite these challenges, the agency has made tangible improvements, creating the Aviation and Airspace Security Division to monitor drones and reallocating resources to ensure threats are prioritized effectively.<\/p>\n
Curran has banned uniformed officers from wearing rainbow-colored pride pins or patches and emphasized strict adherence to professional standards, reflecting Trump\u2019s executive order eliminating DEI programs across federal agencies.<\/p>\n
Senior agents note that the Secret Service previously accepted underqualified recruits, including those without prior law enforcement experience, leading to weakened operational capability.<\/p>\n
Last year, amid fallout from the Butler assassination attempt, the agency attempted to retain agents with bonuses up to 25% of their salaries, but the real problem had been systemic: DEI policies that undermined morale and mission focus.<\/p>\n
Veterans like Rashid Ellis publicly blame DEI for the near-assassination of Trump, arguing that gender quotas and diversity initiatives distorted promotions and assignments.<\/p>\n
Curran has countered these issues by emphasizing merit-based assignments, ensuring the right person is in the right position, and focusing on protective readiness above all else.<\/p>\n
Critics of the prior DEI-focused leadership point to incidents such as the Secret Service sending agents to LGBTQI+ conferences overseas during peak campaign periods, distracting from protective duties.<\/p>\n
Curran\u2019s reforms also include reestablishing rigorous fitness standards and restoring the traditional pathway to leadership through presidential protective assignments.<\/p>\n
While Curran has kept some former Cheatle deputies in leadership, their roles are being recalibrated to align with operational priorities rather than political quotas.<\/p>\n
The agency has successfully thwarted threats against Trump and other officials, including arrests for assassination plots and the discovery of a suspicious hunting stand near Air Force One.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, some embarrassing incidents persist, such as missing firearms during security checks or internal disputes among officers, reflecting the legacy of DEI-driven mismanagement.<\/p>\n
Sen. Marsha Blackburn has criticized prior DEI policies for diverting focus from the Secret Service\u2019s essential mission: protecting those under threat.<\/p>\n
Under Trump and Curran, the Secret Service is now undergoing a transformation similar to reforms in the U.S. military under Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who eliminated woke initiatives and restored a warrior ethos.<\/p>\n
Hegseth\u2019s reforms, emphasizing physical fitness and meritocracy, have revitalized military recruitment and retention \u2014 a model that Curran seeks to replicate within the Secret Service.<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s administration has made clear that identity-based hiring, diversity quotas, and politically correct displays have no place in agencies charged with protecting the president.<\/p>\n
Curran\u2019s quiet, disciplined approach has focused on tangible results rather than media appearances, reinforcing operational excellence and morale within the ranks.<\/p>\n
Agents on Trump and Vice President JD Vance\u2019s details face some of the longest hours and toughest schedules, but Curran\u2019s reforms aim to ensure they are properly trained, supported, and assigned based on skill rather than DEI metrics.<\/p>\n
BREAKING: Anna Paulina Luna Claims The Biden DOJ DESTROYED\u2026<\/p>\n
Representative Anna Paulina Luna has leveled explosive information against the Biden Department of Justice, claiming that critical materials related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation have been deliberately destroyed.<\/p>\n
This assertion, if proven true, would represent one of the most damning instances of governmental obstruction and cover-up in recent history.<\/p>\n
Luna, who chairs a congressional task force focused on federal transparency, has stated unequivocally that she possesses evidence implicating high-ranking officials in the DOJ.<\/p>\n
According to her, these officials not only failed to disclose materials related to Epstein but actively destroyed them to conceal the extent of powerful individuals\u2019 involvement in Epstein\u2019s criminal network.<\/p>\n
She introduced legislation titled the SHRED Act, aimed at imposing severe penalties on government agents who destroy or conceal federal records. The proposed bill calls for 20 years to life in prison for anyone caught eliminating evidence in cases of national significance.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven if they are conducting a criminal investigation, you should probably pick up the phone and call us,\u201d Luna told Fox News. \u201cWe have been more than patient.\u201d<\/p>\n
These developments come amid growing conservative suspicion that the Biden administration has no interest in unmasking Epstein\u2019s full network. The notion that key records could be gone forever only intensifies fears that justice is being buried under a bureaucratic rug.<\/p>\n
Luna\u2019s office has reportedly sent multiple requests to the Department of Justice demanding clarity on the handling of Epstein-related materials. So far, those inquiries have been met with either vague responses or complete silence.<\/p>\n
The congresswoman did not mince words in her public statements, suggesting that the DOJ\u2019s behavior constitutes a deliberate act of obstruction. If true, such actions could violate federal law and trigger an entirely new legal battle.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Biden DOJ has obstructed Congress, ignored subpoenas, and now appears to have destroyed critical evidence,\u201d Luna said. \u201cThis is corruption at the highest level.\u201d<\/p>\n
Critics argue that this is yet another example of double standards in Washington. \u201cHad this been a Republican-led DOJ accused of destroying documents in a child sex trafficking case, the media would be apoplectic,\u201d one conservative commentator noted.<\/p>\n
For years, the Epstein case has symbolized the deep rot within America\u2019s elite circles. The financier\u2019s suspicious death in prison and the subsequent lack of high-profile indictments have fueled accusations of a widespread cover-up.<\/p>\n
Now, Luna\u2019s allegations breathe new life into those concerns. If records were indeed destroyed, the implications are profound. It would mean that the DOJ, under Biden, actively shielded criminals from justice.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s more troubling is that these destroyed materials could have named prominent individuals\u2014politicians, celebrities, and global financiers\u2014who participated in or enabled Epstein\u2019s crimes.<\/p>\n
In this context, Luna\u2019s SHRED Act isn\u2019t just legislative symbolism. It is a clarion call for accountability in an era marked by elite impunity. Her bill seeks to ensure that future officials think twice before erasing truth from the historical record.<\/p>\n
Despite Luna\u2019s repeated calls for transparency, there has been no formal response from Attorney General Merrick Garland. The silence speaks volumes to many who believe the DOJ is stonewalling on purpose.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, conservative lawmakers have rallied behind Luna. A growing number of Republicans in the House and Senate are voicing support for investigations into the DOJ\u2019s handling of Epstein evidence.<\/p>\n
Some have even floated the idea of appointing a special counsel to probe the matter independently. Given the stakes, such a move may be the only path forward to restore public confidence.<\/p>\n
This latest scandal further erodes the credibility of an already battered Department of Justice. From the Hunter Biden laptop fiasco to the political targeting of conservatives, the agency has been repeatedly accused of partisanship.<\/p>\n
Now, with Epstein documents allegedly destroyed, the DOJ\u2019s credibility is in tatters. Public trust, once broken, is hard to rebuild.<\/p>\n
The American people deserve the truth. And if Luna\u2019s allegations are accurate, they deserve justice, no matter how high the guilty parties sit.<\/p>\n
BREAKING: Tom Homan Reveals an Investigation is Underway Into AOC For\u2026<\/p>\n
Border Czar Tom Homan confirmed that a federal investigation is underway into Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for allegedly employing a criminal illegal alien and helping others evade federal immigration authorities.<\/p>\n
Speaking from his post as one of President Trump\u2019s top immigration officials, Homan revealed that ICE has launched a formal probe after multiple allegations emerged against the congresswoman.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a live federal investigation. We\u2019ve asked ICE to take immediate action,\u201d Homan said during a televised interview.<\/p>\n
The individual in question is reportedly an undocumented alien with a criminal record, unlawfully hired by AOC\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
According to internal reports, the employee had multiple encounters with law enforcement and should have been deported years ago.<\/p>\n
Homan stressed that AOC\u2019s potential interference with ICE operations could amount to obstruction of justice.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis goes beyond hiring an illegal alien. There\u2019s evidence she actively helped shield this person from deportation,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
Conservative leaders are sounding the alarm, warning that this may be only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to far-left officials flouting immigration laws.<\/p>\n
AOC has long been known for championing sanctuary cities and attacking border agents, often labeling them as \u201cracist\u201d and \u201coppressors.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, critics say her reckless rhetoric has crossed over into potentially criminal behavior.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf a sitting congresswoman used her office to harbor an illegal alien, that\u2019s a clear violation of federal law,\u201d Homan declared.<\/p>\n
Sources inside ICE say agents have already gathered documentation and begun interviewing individuals connected to the case.<\/p>\n
Evidence suggests AOC may have leveraged her political power to block enforcement action against the individual she employed.<\/p>\n
House Republicans are demanding accountability, with several calling for a formal ethics investigation into her conduct.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is what happens when radicals gain power. They think the law doesn\u2019t apply to them,\u201d said Rep. Andy Biggs.<\/p>\n
Democrats quickly circled the wagons, accusing Homan of launching a political smear campaign.<\/p>\n
But Homan stood firm, reminding the public that the law is the law and political office offers no immunity from prosecution.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t about politics. It\u2019s about national security and public trust,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Homan emphasized that ICE agents are working independently and that the White House is not interfering in the investigation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are following the facts. If those facts point to criminal activity, then action will be taken,\u201d Homan confirmed.<\/p>\n
Legal experts say AOC could face charges ranging from unlawful employment to obstruction of federal agents, depending on the evidence.<\/p>\n
Citizens outraged by the news are demanding swift justice and a full public accounting of the congresswoman\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n
Homan urged Americans not to let political ideology blind them to the seriousness of the allegations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must restore the rule of law,\u201d he concluded. \u201cNo one, no matter how powerful, is above it.\u201d<\/p>\n
BREAKING: The FBI Launches Criminal Investigation Into..<\/p>\n
It\u2019s finally happening.<\/p>\n
John Brennan and James Comey\u2014two of the most powerful Obama-era intelligence chiefs\u2014are now facing criminal investigations.<\/p>\n
Their role in pushing the fabricated Trump-Russia collusion narrative derailed a presidency and deceived the nation.<\/p>\n
Sources inside the Justice Department confirm that former CIA Director Brennan is under investigation for allegedly lying to Congress.<\/p>\n
Ex-FBI Director Comey is also the subject of an ongoing probe.<\/p>\n
Their roles in the origin and manipulation of the Trump-Russia hoax are being scrutinized, years after millions of Americans demanded accountability.<\/p>\n
Brennan is accused of pushing the phony Steele dossier into official intelligence assessments.<\/p>\n
CIA Russia experts warned the document was so flawed it didn\u2019t meet even \u201cthe most basic tradecraft standards.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJasmine Crockett didn\u2019t just insult Trump,\u201d Leavitt said during her White House briefing. \u201cShe smeared over 70 million Americans who believe in freedom, God, secure borders, and the Constitution. Calling them mentally ill is not just false\u2014it\u2019s dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brennan ignored the warnings and formalized his demand in writing, insisting the fake dossier be included anyway.<\/p>\n
James Comey, for his part, did the same.<\/p>\n
The CIA\u2019s review makes clear: FBI leadership under Comey pressured the intelligence community to embed the Steele dossier in their final report on Russian election interference.<\/p>\n
The FBI \u201crepeatedly pushed\u201d for its inclusion.<\/p>\n
These two didn\u2019t just make bad calls. They rigged the process.<\/p>\n
Even worse, Brennan later told Congress under oath that the Steele dossier \u201cwasn\u2019t part of the corpus of intelligence\u201d used in the Russia assessment.<\/p>\n
But a newly surfaced email shows that he pushed the dossier hard, despite being warned it could destroy the report\u2019s credibility.<\/p>\n
And why did they push it so aggressively? Because it wasn\u2019t about national security.<\/p>\n
It was about kneecapping President Trump before he was even sworn in.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was Obama, Comey, Clapper, and Brennan deciding, \u2018We\u2019re going to screw Trump,\u2019\u201d former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe told the press.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey all knew what they were doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Millions of tax dollars were wasted. Reputations were destroyed.<\/p>\n
\u201cJasmine Crockett should visit a Trump rally before shooting her mouth off,\u201d Leavitt challenged.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019ll meet grandmothers, veterans, farmers, teachers, truckers\u2014all proud Americans who just want their country back. These are the people she called mentally ill. What an absolute disgrace.\u201d<\/p>\n
And for what? To push Hillary Clinton\u2019s opposition research as gospel truth.<\/p>\n
Clinton and the DNC paid Fusion GPS to dig up dirt.<\/p>\n
Fusion hired British ex-spy Christopher Steele. Steele gave them fiction.<\/p>\n
Senator Josh Hawley demanded action: \u201cIf Brennan and Comey lied to Congress or weaponized their agencies against a political opponent, they should be prosecuted\u2014no exceptions, no excuses.\u201d<\/p>\n
This scandal is bigger than Watergate.<\/p>\n
It poisoned public trust, warped the 2016 election aftermath, and set the tone for years of baseless attacks on a sitting president.<\/p>\n
The investigations are underway.<\/p>\n
Now the question is, will the justice system do its job, or will the same people who buried the truth for years bury it again?<\/p>\n
Brennan and Comey must be held accountable.<\/p>\n
No one is above the law, not even the architects of one of the most dishonest political smear campaigns in American history.<\/p>\n
BREAKING: Joe Biden Admits to New York Times That\u2026<\/p>\n
Joe Biden admitted to The New York Times that he did not personally sign off on every pardon and commutation issued during his presidency, an acknowledgment that has sparked intense debate over how involved he truly was in carrying out one of the most consequential powers of the office.<\/p>\n
\u201cI made every decision on the categories and top-level individuals, but the mechanics were left to staff,\u201d Biden told the Times. That sentence alone sent shockwaves through political and legal communities.<\/p>\n
According to the New York Post, Biden\u2019s White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients authorized the use of the autopen to execute a sweeping set of clemency actions on January 19, 2025. This included about 2,500 pardons and 1,500 commutations.<\/p>\n
The New York Post confirmed, \u201cBiden admitted that he didn\u2019t review every clemency case individually and that his chief of staff, Jeff Zients, authorized the use of the autopen.\u201d<\/p>\n
The same report added, \u201cThe autopen application, which Biden also used to sign some legislation, allowed staff to speed up paperwork processing.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Biden insisted, as quoted in ABC News, that he personally made \u201cevery decision,\u201d he conceded that he did not individually sign off on each document, saying, \u201cI approved each of the clemency decisions before they were issued.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Daily Beast quoted Biden dismissing Republican criticism: \u201cThat is utter BS,\u201d he said, responding to allegations that he had no hand in the clemency spree.<\/p>\n
Still, Biden\u2019s comments confirmed the worst fears of critics who have questioned his cognitive fitness and decision-making capacity. As Time reported, the final flurry of clemency actions was conducted with Biden out of public view.<\/p>\n
Time added context, noting, \u201cEmails show Biden\u2019s chief of staff, Jeff Zients, approved the use of the autopen to execute clemency documents on the president\u2019s behalf.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the same article, the legal implications were underscored: \u201cWhile it is legally permissible, it is extremely rare for a president to use an autopen to sign something as consequential as a clemency order.\u201d<\/p>\n
Republican leaders swiftly seized on the opportunity to highlight Biden\u2019s detachment. House Oversight Chair James Comer was quoted as saying, \u201cThis isn\u2019t just about a signature. It\u2019s about transparency, accountability, and who really was making decisions in that White House.\u201d<\/p>\n
Comer continued, as cited in ABC News, \u201cWe are investigating whether this use of the autopen was a way to obscure Biden\u2019s declining capacity and whether any of the beneficiaries had connections to the administration.\u201d<\/p>\n
The legal debate over autopen use isn\u2019t new, but Biden\u2019s large-scale application is unprecedented. According to Time, \u201cIt has never been used on this scale or for something with the constitutional gravity of a pardon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Even some Democrats were privately concerned. One DNC strategist, speaking anonymously to Politico, said, \u201cIt feeds the narrative that Biden isn\u2019t all there.\u201d<\/p>\n
The same strategist added, \u201cIf he wasn\u2019t fully engaged on something as serious as clemency, what else was he rubber-stamping?\u201d<\/p>\n
In response to concerns, the Daily Beast reported that Biden maintained, \u201cEach recipient was vetted and met the established standards for clemency.\u201d<\/p>\n
This adds to a growing list of concerns among voters and lawmakers alike. ABC News reported that the clemency decisions were made with \u201cspeed and secrecy,\u201d raising transparency questions.<\/p>\n
Donald Trump, seizing the moment, weighed in: \u201cHe didn\u2019t have the guts or the capacity to do his job,\u201d he said during a recent rally, as quoted in The Daily Beast.<\/p>\n
Trump added, \u201cYou don\u2019t get to hide behind a machine when you\u2019re playing with the law.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
On September 15, 2024, former U.S. President Donald Trump narrowly survived a second assassination attempt, an event that once again underscored the grim reality of violence in American political life. His survival…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14948,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14949","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hot-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t