A former high-ranking Biden administration official revealed during congressional testimony that she possessed authority to direct the use of an automated signature device on behalf of President Biden for nearly two years.
Neera Tanden appeared before House investigators for four hours of closed-door questioning on Tuesday, marking the first major interview in what lawmakers describe as an expanding investigation into the Biden administration’s use of presidential signature automation.
The former White House Domestic Policy Council director told committee members she held responsibility for managing document flow between the president and various government agencies during her tenure as staff secretary.
Tanden confirmed she maintained authorization to direct autopen usage from October 2021 through May 2023, a period spanning nearly 20 months of the Biden presidency.
“As staff secretary, I was responsible for handling the flow of documents to and from the president,” Tanden stated during her opening remarks to investigators.
She disclosed that her office inherited existing protocols for autopen authorization from previous administrations and continued implementing those procedures throughout her time in the White House.
“I was also authorized to direct that autopen signatures be affixed to certain categories of documents. We had a system for authorizing the use of