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The New York Times has recently come under fire for its framing of an interview with former President Joe Biden regarding the contentious use of an autopen by his administration. This phone interview marks a rare engagement between Biden and the Times, underscoring the growing scrutiny surrounding his pardons issued in the final days of his presidency.
During the ten-minute call, Biden addressed escalating concerns from former President Donald Trump and GOP lawmakers voiced about the legality of his pardons. Many of these pardons were primarily signed with an autopen, a fact that has raised questions about the authenticity of the decisions made.
The Times published the headline, “Biden Says He Made the Clemency Decisions That Were Recorded With Autopen.” In the interview, Biden firmly stated that he had independently made every clemency decision and labeled Trump and other critics as “liars.” However, the article noted in a later paragraph that Biden did not approve each name included in the blanket pardons that affected numerous individuals. This detail emerged from the accounts provided by Biden and his aides.
The report indicated that after extensive discussions regarding criteria for the pardons, Biden authorized the standards that would be used to identify eligible convicts for sentence reductions.
According to journalism experts, including DePauw University professor Jeffrey McCall, it appears that Biden’s team chose to engage with the Times to mitigate the fallout from the autopen controversy. As a leading media outlet, the Times often sets the agenda for news coverage, compelling similar outlets to follow its lead. McCall suggested that this strategy allowed Biden to express his side to a media source perceived as sympathetic.
Tim Young, a Media Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, asserted that Biden’s interview with the Times was a reaction to mounting scrutiny from the House GOP and the Oversight Project. They had recently revealed significant gaps in White House understanding regarding the clemency or pardon orders that had been signed. Young suggested the situation was escalating to a point where the administration felt compelled to provide clarity before tensions worsened.
Instead of repeatedly asking the president to sign updated documents, Biden’s aides resorted to using an autopen for the final signatures. The Times reported that the president’s chief of staff, Jeff Zients, was responsible for this decision, especially regarding pardons for prominent figures such as medical adviser Anthony Fauci and former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley.
Despite the revelations, some media analysts were critical of The Times’ framing. NewsBusters managing editor Curtis Houck described the Times report as “embarrassing,” emphasizing that placing crucial details so far down in the article compromises journalistic integrity. He criticized the narrative for seemingly accepting Biden’s assertions without thorough scrutiny.
Political commentator Mark Halperin also noted the absence of expert opinions or responses from Republicans within the Times’ coverage. He suggested that the lack of dissenting views, particularly if the roles were reversed, reflects a departure from essential journalistic standards.
Independent journalist Drew Holden emphasized that while the Times echoed Biden’s claims about his decision-making, it also buried facts that contradicted those assertions. He pointed out that Biden’s former chief of staff ultimately had the final say, raising concerns about the reliability of the information presented in the article.
As the controversy unfolds, Young characterized the Times interview as Biden’s last-ditch effort to salvage his reputation in light of another potential scandal from his presidency. He remarked that it illustrates how the political landscape has evolved, especially concerning perceptions of Biden’s cognitive fitness.
In the wake of these discussions, many media outlets including ABC News, CBS News, and others have echoed the Times’ framing, contributing to broader narratives about Biden’s leadership and the administration’s transparency.
The criticism regarding The New York Times is not merely about the interview itself but extends to broader questions of journalistic accountability and the importance of presenting complete and balanced narratives in political reporting. As public trust in media outlets remains fragile, the ongoing debate over how political figures are represented in the media is likely to continue.
As the situation develops, responses from Biden’s administration and further insights from analysts will help clarify the implications of the autopen controversy on his governance and legacy.
The New York Times has yet to provide a formal response following the backlash generated by its report.
