What Happened?

What Happened?

• Adrian Peeler: One of nearly 2,500 individuals whose federal sentence for drug offenses was commuted by President Biden in January 2025. Notably, Peeler had previously served—and completed—a state sentence for conspiracy to commit the murders of a woman and her 8‑year‑old son. His federal sentence was reduced so it now expires in February 2025.SnopesConnecticut Post

How Was the Pardon Issued?

• The autopen—a mechanical device that replicates the president’s signature—was used extensively during the final weeks of Biden’s presidency to sign pardons and commutations. This method has drawn deep internal criticism.Axios+1

• Chief of Staff Jeff Zients authorized autopen use on the night of January 19, less than 14 hours before Biden left office. The request came from Zients’ email address, though it was apparently not written by him personally.Axios

• DOJ ethics attorney Bradley Weinsheimer pushed back against the characterization of the clemency recipients as “non-violent,” calling that description “untrue, or at least misleading.” He resigned in protest soon after.AxiosNew York Post

Internal Concerns & Reactions

• Internal commentary from the Justice Department raised alarms that the autopen-clemency process was flawed, opaque, and not properly vetted. Officials flagged recipients with violent histories, such as Peeler, as especially problematic.New York PostWashington Examiner

• Documents show senior DOJ staff were only given final warrants minutes before their public release, limiting their ability to fully review or vet them.New York Post+1

• Several White House aides expressed frustration, with some reportedly demanding confirmation of Biden’s direct involvement before allowing the autopen to be used.AxiosYour NewsNewsmax

Legal & Political Fallout

• The House Oversight Committee—now GOP-led—is investigating the process, including the use of autopen and whether clemency decisions might have been improperly delegated. A hearing with Jeff Zients is scheduled for September 18.Axios+1

• President Biden has publicly maintained that he personally made all clemency decisions, stating that using the autopen was legally permissible, especially given the volume of documents.AxiosNew York PostThe Guardian

Summary Table