Former White House stenographer Mike McCormick has publicly criticized President Joe Biden for his use of an auto-pen to sign official documents, calling it a "disgrace." McCormick accused Biden's team of concealing his cognitive decline amid talks that Biden's signings are illegitimate.
Just The News reported that McCormick, who served from 2002 to 2018, shared his views on a television show called "Just the News, No Noise." During the broadcast, he stated that he noticed significant changes in Biden's functionality compared to his earlier years in politics.
At that time, McCormick expressed that Biden appeared to be "a shell of his former self." He has since reiterated these observations, blaming the press for not exposing the presidential candidate’s condition during the election period.
According to McCormick, the use of automated technologies like an auto-pen to sign important documents was part of the concealment strategy.
This technology, although used by previous presidents for routine matters, has drawn significant criticism when used extensively. McCormick straightforwardly labeled its use as a "disgrace to the presidency."
Joining in the controversy, former President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to condemn Biden's use of the auto-pen. Trump specifically targeted the pardons issued by Biden, including those to members of the House January 6 committee. He suggested these actions were invalid as they were allegedly executed by an auto-pen rather than by Biden himself.
Trump’s post declared these pardons "VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT." He noted that the legitimacy of such pardons would eventually be determined by the courts. While Trump acknowledged using an auto-pen himself for signing letters, he claimed it unlikely that Biden was aware of its use for his documents.
McCormick supported Trump's perspective by insisting that those close to Biden, including his wife Jill Biden, and advisers like Steve Ricchetti and Michael Donilon, were complicit in obscuring the president's alleged cognitive decline. He accused them of maneuvering to enable Biden to appear as if he were making decisions independently.
According to McCormick, the media played a significant role in maintaining a façade regarding Biden's capacity to lead.
He criticized media outlets for their lack of transparency about Biden's state during his presidency and claimed they helped cover up his use of the auto-pen.
This critique aligns with McCormick's observations and allegations about the inner workings of the current administration. He remains a vocal critic of how these matters have been handled and the perceived dishonesty associated with them.
In addition to his media appearances discussing these issues, McCormick has authored a memoir titled "Fifteen Years A Deplorable: A White House Memoir," where he details his experiences and observations from his time within the White House.
As the debate around the use of auto-pens by sitting presidents continues, both supporters and critics of Biden are likely to weigh the implications of such technologies on the authenticity of presidential actions.
This issue brings forward important questions regarding transparency, presidential ability, and the ethical use of automated tools in governing.
The controversy has sparked a broader discussion about the necessity and appropriateness of auto-pens in presidential duties, particularly when the president's cognitive abilities are called into question.
These discussions are likely to persist as part of wider conversations about political transparency and leadership integrity.