Hold onto your hats, folks -- there’s a storm brewing in Washington over whether President Joe Biden’s signatures on critical executive actions were ever even approved by the then-commander in chief.

The House Oversight Committee dropped a bombshell report on Tuesday, alleging that numerous executive actions, including pardons and commutations, during Biden’s presidency weren’t personally approved by him and may have been signed using a mechanical autopen by aides without his awareness, as Breitbart reports.

This isn’t just a paperwork snafu; it’s a question of legitimacy. The Committee’s 91-page report claims these autopen-signed actions are outright void, painting a troubling picture of presidential authority being sidestepped. Call it a bureaucratic sleight of hand, but one that could unravel key decisions made under Biden’s name.

Uncovering the autopen controversy

The investigation kicked off with the House Oversight Committee urging the Justice Department to dig into these executive actions. Their findings suggest aides might have used the autopen to rubber-stamp orders, bypassing the president entirely. If true, this isn’t just cutting corners -- it’s cutting out the commander in chief altogether.

Committee chair James Comer didn’t mince words on the gravity of the situation. “The Biden Autopen Presidency will go down as one of the biggest political scandals in U.S. history,” Comer declared, pointing to what he sees as a deliberate effort to mask Biden’s capacity issues. That’s a hefty charge, and one wonders if the public will see it as overreach or a necessary alarm bell.

The report also raises eyebrows about Biden’s mental and physical decline during his tenure. It accuses senior White House staff of working overtime to conceal his condition from the public. While compassion for health struggles is warranted, hiding such matters from voters is a trust-breaker of epic proportions.

Key aids under fire

Comer’s recommendations don’t stop at a Justice Department review of all Biden-era executive actions. He’s also calling for the D.C. Board of Medicine to scrutinize Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Biden’s personal physician, for potentially unethical conduct in obscuring the president’s health status. It’s a bold move, but accountability must start somewhere.

Several key aides, including Dr. O’Connor, Annie Tomasini, and Anthony Bernal, are in the hot seat after invoking the Fifth Amendment during the Committee’s probe. Refusing to testify might be their right, but it fuels suspicion of a deeper cover-up. The public deserves answers, not stonewalling.

Comer doubled down with another pointed statement: “We are calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct a thorough review of these executive actions and scrutinize key Biden aides who took the Fifth to hide their participation in the cover-up.” That’s a direct challenge to the administration’s inner circle, and it’s hard to argue against transparency when the stakes are this high.

Are Biden's actions void?

The core of the Oversight report’s argument is that actions signed via autopen lack legitimacy. It specifically states that numerous decisions, especially clemency orders, fail to meet the standard of presidential approval. If this holds up under legal scrutiny, the ripple effects could be massive.

Think about it -- pardons and commutations are among the most sacred powers a president wields. If they’re reduced to a mechanical signature without personal oversight, it’s not just a procedural glitch; it’s a betrayal of constitutional duty. The principle of checks and balances isn’t negotiable, no matter the excuse.

The report’s findings aren’t just a critique of process but a broader indictment of trust in government. When aides allegedly wield power behind the scenes, it erodes faith in democratic institutions. And in an era where skepticism of elites is already sky-high, this only pours fuel on the fire.

Calling for accountability, transparency

Chairman Comer’s push for a full Justice Department review signals that this issue isn’t going away quietly. The Committee’s exhaustive 91-page document lays out a case for why every executive action under Biden needs a second look. It’s a daunting task, but necessary if the integrity of the office is at stake.

At the heart of this scandal is a simple question: Who was really running the show? While progressive defenders might argue this is a partisan witch hunt, the evidence of autopen use and staff secrecy demands a response. Compassion for health challenges shouldn’t mean carte blanche for unaccountable governance.

Ultimately, the House Oversight Committee’s report is a wake-up call for Americans tired of smoke and mirrors in Washington. If executive actions can be signed without a president’s direct consent, then the very foundation of our system is at risk. Let’s hope this investigation brings clarity -- and consequences -- before more trust is lost.