WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Justice Department replaced online copies of seven pardons this week after users noticed that the documents featured identical signatures from President Donald Trump. Officials said the duplication was caused by a “technical error” and confirmed that Trump personally signed each pardon.
The Nov. 7 clemency grants included former MLB star Darryl Strawberry, ex–Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada, and former NYPD sergeant Michael McMahon. Two forensic handwriting experts told the Associated Press that the initial versions, still visible through the Internet Archive, showed “identical design features,” something impossible in genuine handwriting.
DOJ spokesperson Chad Gilmartin attributed the issue to staffing shortages caused by the “Democrat shutdown,” while White House press secretary Abigail Jackson said the story was “a non-issue.” Trump’s team emphasized he signed all pardons by hand, blaming the upload process for the repeated image.
Democrats, including Rep. Dave Min (Calif.), called for an investigation, citing Republican claims that President Biden’s autopen signatures were improper. Legal scholars, however, said the corrections do not affect clemency validity, as presidential intent is the legal standard.
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