Editor’s note: The source material for this story does not include details of the divorce filing, such as the court, filing date, or any statement from the parties. Verify these details before publication.
A Personal Turn
Ashley Biden has reportedly filed for divorce from her husband after 13 years of marriage. The filing came alongside a social media post in which she shared a photo taken at a park, with a caption that spoke of fresh starts and a different approach to what lies ahead.
The couple kept a relatively private life despite the prominence of the Biden family in national politics. Their marriage had not drawn significant public controversy before the filing was announced.
Political Scrutiny Intensifies
The announcement arrives as the Biden family faces other developments following Joe Biden’s recent departure from the presidency. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has announced an investigation into Biden’s decision-making during his final months in office, pointing to concerns about his use of autopen signatures on official documents.
Comer said the frequency of autopen usage raises legal questions about whether Biden personally reviewed documents before they were signed in his name. He suggested the investigation could be used to challenge some of Biden’s recent pardons and executive orders in court.
Constitutional Questions
Legal experts have raised constitutional concerns about using an autopen on official presidential documents. Former Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz argued that the Constitution requires the president to personally sign bills and pardons, which could create legal vulnerabilities if documents were executed without his direct involvement.
“It says, ‘sign it.’ Sign it. So an autopen would raise a real problem if he signed it by autopen, which is not a real signature.”
Biden’s use of the autopen began early in his presidency and increased significantly by 2022. The president has said he made every decision regarding pardons. Aides, however, acknowledged that he did not individually approve each name included in categorical pardon categories.
