FALSE
Claims that presidential pardons signed with autopen (mechanical signature devices) can be legally "terminated" or invalidated are false. The use of autopen for presidential signatures has been legally recognized since 2005, and presidential pardons cannot be revoked by subsequent presidents regardless of signing method.
In 2025, claims circulated that pardons signed using autopen technology could be invalidated or "terminated" by a new administration. Legal experts uniformly rejected this argument. Autopen signatures have been legally valid for federal documents since a 2005 DOJ opinion. More importantly, once a pardon is granted and delivered, it cannot be revoked by subsequent presidents - this is settled constitutional law regardless of the signing method used.
The False Claim
Claims suggested autopen-signed pardons could be legally challenged or terminated [1].
Some suggested a new president could revoke such pardons [5].
Legal Reality
Autopen signatures have been legally valid for federal documents since 2005 [2].
Multiple presidents have used autopen for legislation and documents [3].
Pardon Irrevocability
Once granted and delivered, pardons cannot be revoked by subsequent presidents [11].
This is settled constitutional law regardless of signing method [12].
Conclusion
Claims about terminating autopen-signed pardons are false. Autopen signatures are legally valid, and pardons cannot be revoked regardless of how they were signed.