: A top former spokesperson for former President Joe Biden is blasting President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress for proposing potential judicial impeachments, as the administration hits an array of court-imposed obstacles in implementing its agenda. 

Former White House spokesperson Andrew Bates now advises a group known as Unlikely Allies, which says it is working to create ‘cross-partisan support for the needs and interests of all Americans.’

‘Radical, corrupt attacks on judges are putting our Constitution and the freedom of every single American in danger from government overreach,’ Bates told Fox News Digital on the group’s behalf. ‘For the first time in history, our president and members of his party in Congress are colluding to impeach any federal judge who stops the most powerful person in the world from breaking the law.’

‘The President has also called for making dissent illegal, which would trample the 1st Amendment and threaten the fundamental right of any American to disagree with his agenda — whether it’s cutting taxes for the rich or raising the prices he falsely promised to lower,’ he continued. 

According to the group, Unlikely Allies ‘is made up of everyday citizens, families, communities, and organizations who are committed to solving our toughest problems, together.’

‘Driven by the values that unite us, our goal is to create unified, cross-partisan support for the needs and interests of all Americans. This isn’t about left or right, Republican or Democrat — it’s about American values and holding our government accountable,’ a description of the organization read. 

The White House responded to Bates’ statement, with Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly telling Fox News Digital, ‘Biden communications alum Andrew Bates has no credibility after lying to the world about Biden’s cognitive decline. Just like these judges, Bates is a left-wing activist masquerading as a nonpartisan as he works to destroy the separation of powers and subvert the will of the American people.’ 

The dispute comes as federal judges across the country continue to impose restrictions on Trump actions until further review and legal determinations. 

Recently, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg granted an emergency order to temporarily halt the administration’s deportation flights of illegal immigrants.

The judge granted the order to review the 1798 wartime-era Alien Enemies Act being invoked by the administration in order to immediately deport Venezuelan nationals and alleged members of the violent gang Tren de Aragua.

This only further angered the president, who appeared to call for Boasberg’s impeachment. ‘This judge, like many of the Crooked Judges’ I am forced to appear before, should be IMPEACHED!!! WE DON’T WANT VICIOUS, VIOLENT, AND DEMENTED CRIMINALS, MANY OF THEM DERANGED MURDERERS, IN OUR COUNTRY. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!’ he said on Truth Social.

Republicans in general have appeared to scrutinize the ability of federal district judges to make blanket nationwide orders in recent days. 

‘Federal judges aren’t there to replace presidential policy choices,’ wrote Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, on X. ‘Nor is it their job to neuter presidents by delaying presidential decisions.’ 

‘Their job is to resolve disputes about what the law says,’ he continued. 

Lee also said he is working on a bill to address the issue. 

In the House, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., has a measure that would prevent federal judges from issuing nationwide injunctions. Multiple sources told Fox News Digital that Trump himself has shown interest in Issa’s bill. Top White House aides shared as much with senior Capitol Hill staff this week, explaining that ‘the president wants this.’

President Donald Trump praised his youngest son, Barron Trump, as a ‘smart guy’ with an affinity for technology ahead of Barron’s 19th birthday on Thursday. 

The president said his teen son has a knack for technology when asked whether Barron had more of a talent for business or politics during an exclusive interview on ‘The Ingraham Angle’ this week.

‘Maybe technology,’ Trump said. ‘He can look at a computer. I try I turn it off. As I turn it off I turn off his laptop. I said, oh good. And I go back. Five minutes later, he’s got his laptop. I say, how did you do that? None of your business, dad. No. He’s got an unbelievable aptitude in technology.’

‘Barron’s a very smart guy,’ the president said.

Barron Trump is a first-year student at New York University (NYU) in the Stern School of Business.

During the inaugural parade at Capital One Arena, Barron Trump was acknowledged by his father for his role in the 2024 presidential election results — as he reportedly guided the president on how to target the youth vote through podcasts hosted by Joe Rogan, Theo Von and others.

The 2024 presidential race was the first election in which Barron Trump was eligible to vote and his mother, First lady Melania Trump, shared a photo of her son on Election Day while he was casting his ballot at the voting booth.

Trump went on to praise all his other four children – Eric, Donald Jr., Tiffany and Ivanka – during the interview, telling Ingraham that they’re ‘very smart’ and were ‘always good students.’

‘I’m lucky,’ the president said. ‘Look, you have to be a little bit lucky, too.

Fox News Digital’s Ashley J. DiMella contributed to this report.

As part of the Trump administration’s efforts to peel back Biden-era diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) requirements, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) rescinded the agency’s ‘Scientific Integrity Policy’ implemented under President Joe Biden.

A ‘Final Scientific Integrity Policy’ was unveiled by the Biden administration during the last few weeks of its term. The policy posited that DEI was an ‘integral’ part of ‘the entire scientific process,’ and pushed NIH’s chief scientist and top scientific integrity official to ‘promote agency efforts regarding diversity, equity and inclusion.’ It also instituted agency-wide policy directives ordering supervisors at the NIH to ‘support’ scientists and researchers who are ‘asexual’ or ‘intersex,’ while imploring NIH leadership to ‘confer with relevant offices’ when additional DEI expertise is needed.  

In addition to the amended scientific integrity policy, the Biden administration also took other steps to infuse DEI into the scientific process throughout its term. This included compelling scientists seeking to work with the NIH to submit statements expressing their commitment to DEI, including when seeking certain grant funding for research projects.

‘The Biden administration weaponized NIH’s scientific integrity policy to inject harmful DEI and gender ideology into research,’ said Health and Human Services Department spokesperson, Andrew Nixon. ‘Rescinding this [scientific integrity] policy will allow NIH to restore science to its golden standard and protect the integrity of science.’      

According to an HHS source, during the Biden administration, a member of NIH’s DEI office was placed on every search committee for scientists and leadership. The source also noted that under Biden, scientists who submitted work to the NIH’s ‘Board of Scientific Counselors,’ which oversees agency research, were also required to include a statement pledging their commitment to DEI. 

The Biden administration also funded grants related to DEI, such as one for roughly $165,000 that was focused on ‘queering the curriculum’ for family medicine doctors to guide them in their treatment of transgender patients. A similar project sought to use taxpayer funds from NIH to instruct nurses on the standards of care from the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH). 

WPATH’s standards of care for transgender patients, which support the use of puberty blockers, hormone therapy and gender-reassignment surgery for minors, have been rebuked globally. One controversial part of WPATH’s guidelines is the inclusion of ‘enuch’ as a valid gender-identity. Several European countries, such as the U.K., Sweden and Finland, have taken steps to steer clear of the treatment modalities suggested by WPATH.

Under Biden, the NIH also brought DEI activist Ibram Kendi to speak with more than 1,200 staff members about ‘anti-racism.’ In a recap of the 2022 speech, the NIH pointed out how Kendi ‘states unequivocally’ that ‘policies are either racist or antiracist.’

The Trump administration’s move to rescind the Biden-era scientific integrity policy follows other actions taken to extinguish DEI programs from the public and private sectors, calling such initiatives a civil rights violation.

In addition to slashing DEI programs at the NIH, Trump has also moved to slim down its workforce. Shortly after he took office, the president implemented a funding cap for facilities and administrative fees associated with NIH research to help clear room for additional projects. 

Tesla has become a target of protests and vandalism by critics of its founder Elon Musk over his work at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Donald Trump. Since January, Tesla vehicles, dealerships and factories have been attacked by anti-Musk and anti-Trump activists.

1. Salem, Ore. — Jan. 20 and Feb. 19

On Jan. 20, 2025, hours before Trump took the oath of office, Salem police and firefighters responded to reports of a fire at a Tesla dealership. In a statement issued on the day of the incident, police said that ‘the fire was limited to one vehicle’ and that ‘a window panel on the building was also found broken.’  The Statesman Journal reported that Tesla estimated the cost of the damage to be approximately $500,000.

Almost a month later, on Feb. 19, police were called to the same dealership over reports of damaged windows. Police allegedly found ‘projectiles believed to be spent bullets, bullet fragments and several projectile impacts,’ the outlet reported, citing court documents.

On March 4, Adam Matthew Lansky, 41, was arrested in connection with the incidents. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon said Lansky was charged by a criminal complaint with illegally possessing an unregistered destructive device, likely Molotov cocktails. Lansky was allegedly seen on the dealership’s surveillance footage throwing Molotov cocktails, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Oregon.

2. Loveland, Col. — Jan. 29-Feb. 24

Police in Loveland, Col., dealt with at least five incidents over the course of approximately a month. The U.S. Attorney’s Office of Colorado detailed each of the incidents in a statement announcing charges against Lucy Grace Nelson, also known as Justin Thomas Nelson, who was charged by complaint with one count of malicious destruction of property for a series of alleged attacks. 

On Jan. 29, police received a report about a fire near a Cybertruck at a Tesla dealership and discovered a Molotov cocktail next to the vehicle. Then, days later, on Feb. 2, a Tesla dealership’s sign was vandalized, the word ‘NAZI’ was spray-painted on it. Additionally, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, on Feb. 7, someone reported graffiti and possible arson at a Tesla dealership. The office did not specify if it was the same dealership as the first two incidents, but a report from CBS News seems to indicate that it was.

A few days after that incident, on Feb. 11, a security guard came across someone painting graffiti on the building that, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, ‘used an expletive.’ Then, on Feb. 24, police confronted Nelson at the dealership and found a container of gasoline, a box of bottles and ‘wick material’ in Nelson’s car that resembled those recovered after previous incidents.

3. Owings Mills, Md. — March 2

A Tesla dealership in Owings Mills, Md., a suburb of Baltimore, was vandalized with spray paint that read ‘No Musk.’ There was also a symbol that reportedly looked like a swastika, but according to CBS News, police said it may have been an ‘X’ in a circle, likely representing Musk’s ownership of the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

At this point, there have not been any arrests in connection with this incident.

4. Littleton, Mass. — March 3

Police in Littleton, Mass. are investigating fires at Tesla charging stations at a shopping center that were ‘believed to be suspicious in nature,’ according to the police department. Officers received the report around 1:10 a.m. on March 3 about fires at a charging station. Police say that another charging station caught fire while they were waiting for the Littleton Electric Light and Water Department to arrive.

There were no reported injuries and, so far, police seem to have no leads on who could be behind the fires. The Arson Watch Reward Program has encouraged the public to reach out with any information. The program offers up to $5,000 to for information that prevents, solves or detects arson.

5. Tigard, Ore. — March 6 and 13

Within the span of a week, Tigard Police Department investigated two different reports of shots being fired at Tesla dealerships. The reports do not specify but seem to indicate that the incidents happened at different dealership locations.

The first incident occurred on March 6 when police investigated damage sustained by a Tesla dealership in what appeared to be an overnight shooting. Police believe that the people or person responsible for the shooting began firing at approximately 1:46 a.m. Three vehicles were damaged, and windows were shattered in the incident. Additionally, a bullet hole was found in an office wall and a computer monitor. Police believe at least 7 shots were fired. There have not been any arrests in this incident as of the time of this writing.

In the early hours of March 13, over a dozen shots were fired at a Tesla dealership, damaging cars and showroom windows. Police say there was a security guard on duty at the time, but he was not injured in the incident. There have been no arrests so far.

6. North Charlston, Sc. — March 7

A man allegedly set his clothing on fire accidentally while trying to burn Tesla charging stations, according to reports. He also reportedly spray-painted ‘F*** Trump’ and ‘Long live Ukraine’ near the stations, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of South Carolina. He also allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at Tesla chargers.

On March 14, Daniel Clarke-Pounder was arrested on criminal charges relating to the arson attack, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a press release. Pounder faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

‘While we will defend the public’s right to peaceful protest, we will not hesitate to act when protest crosses the line into violence and mayhem. These kinds of attacks have no place in our community,’ said Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina.

7. Seattle, Wash. — March 9

Four Cybertrucks parked in a Tesla lot in Seattle were damaged in a fire, which is still under investigation. Authorities told the Associated Press that no one was injured and no property other than vehicles was damaged.

So far, no arrests have been made and no injuries have been reported. 

8. Dedham, Mass. — March 11

Police were called to the scene after two Tesla Cybertrucks and a Tesla Model S were damaged in Dedham, Mass. All the tires on the three vehicles were damaged, and the two Cybertrucks were vandalized with spray paint. Some of the wording spray-painted on one of the vehicles reportedly matched graffiti that was reported at the same location on Feb 26. 

Dedham Police are encouraging members of the public with information on the crimes to come forward.

9. Kansas City, Mo. — March 17

A Cybertruck was set on fire in the parking lot of a Tesla dealership in Kansas City on March 17, just before midnight. According to the Kansas City Star, the fire then spread to a second vehicle before firefighters arrived at the scene.

The FBI’s Kansas City field office and the ATF issued a joint statement on the incident on Tuesday. They said it was still ‘too early in the investigation to comment further’ or give more details on what may have occurred. 

10. Las Vegas, Nv. — March 18

Five Tesla vehicles were damaged at a service center in Las Vegas, including two that were set on fire. FBI Las Vegas Special Agent in Charge Spencer Evans told reporters on Tuesday that the incident ‘certainly has some of the hallmarks’ of a terrorist attack, but that it was still too early to say for sure.

Musk condemned the incident, saying it was ‘insane and deeply wrong.’

Attorney General Pam Bondi released a statement Tuesday evening saying, ‘the swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism.’ She vowed that the DOJ would continue investigating and said that those responsible would face serious consequences.

President Donald Trump has shown interest in a House GOP bill that would block federal judges from issuing nationwide injunctions, two sources familiar with discussions told Fox News Digital.

Top White House aides communicated to senior Capitol Hill staff this week that ‘the president wants this,’ the sources said. They said the White House felt that time was of the essence in the matter and that Trump wanted Congress to move swiftly.

It comes after various U.S. district court judges issued more than a dozen nationwide orders at least temporarily blocking Trump’s executive orders.

The bill by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., if it passed Congress and was signed into law, would bar such judges in most cases from blocking Trump policies on a national scale.

Issa’s office did not directly confirm whether the exchange occurred but told Fox News Digital, ‘President Trump knows we need a national solution to this major malfunction in the federal judiciary, and we think we have the momentum to get this done.’

A White House official told Fox News Digital they would not get ahead of the president on legislative matters.

However, the idea has appeared to gain traction in the upper levels of the White House. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller complained on X twice Thursday about federal district judges having the ability to affect policies for the entire country, though he did not mention Issa’s bill specifically.

‘It takes 5 Supreme Court justices to issue a ruling that affects the whole nation. Yet lone District Court judges assume the authority to unilaterally dictate the policies of the entire executive branch of government,’ Miller posted. 

He posted again later, writing, ‘Under what theory of the constitution does a single Marxist judge in San Francisco have the same executive power as the Commander-in-Chief elected by the whole nation to lead the executive branch? No such theory exists. It is merely naked judicial tyranny.’

Issa’s legislation reads, ‘Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no United States district court shall issue any order providing for injunctive relief, except in the case of such an order that is applicable only to limit the actions of a party to the case before such district court with respect to the party seeking injunctive relief from such district court.’

The bill advanced through the House Judiciary Committee earlier this month. Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, told CNN on Wednesday, ‘We think that’s good. We passed it through the committee. We’ll try to look to pass it on the House floor and move it through the process.’

Jordan told Fox News Digital last month he thought Issa’s bill ‘makes sense,’ and the committee would ‘try to move fairly quick on that bill.’ Fox News Digital reached out to the House Judiciary Committee for comment on Trump’s backing of Issa’s bill but did not hear back by press time.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, meanwhile, did not immediately comment on Issa’s bill, but a spokesperson told Fox News Digital he would be holding hearings on the matter.

‘The recent surge of sweeping decisions by district judges merits serious scrutiny. The Senate Judiciary Committee will be closely examining this topic in a hearing and exploring potential legislative solutions in the weeks ahead,’ a spokesperson for the committee said.

However, it comes amid some disagreements among congressional Republicans about how to heed Trump’s call to deal with ‘activist’ judges.

Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, recently introduced a resolution to impeach U.S. District Judge James Boasberg after he ordered a 14-day emergency stop to Trump’s plans to deport suspected Tren De Aragua gang members to El Salvador.

Gill argued that Boasberg abused his power in doing so, and told Fox News Digital this week that he hoped the resolution would go through the regular committee process – something Jordan seemed open to.

Jordan told multiple outlets he would potentially hold hearings on Gill’s resolution, which is a traditional step in the impeachment inquiry process.

Trump posted on Truth Social earlier this week that he wanted Boasberg impeached as well.

However, multiple sources told Fox News Digital that House GOP leaders are more wary of the impeachment route, given the virtual guarantee that such a move would not get the necessary Democrats to pass the Senate.

‘It’s another intense whipping process for something that won’t move at all in the Senate,’ one senior House GOP aide said. ‘I think the White House is trying to find something easier to do.’

House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office told Fox News Digital that he was looking at all available options when reached for comment on House Republicans’ path forward on Thursday morning.

‘Activist judges with political agendas pose a significant threat to the rule of law, equal justice, and the separation of powers. The Speaker looks forward to working with the Judiciary Committee as they review all available options under the Constitution to address this urgent matter,’ a spokesperson for Johnson, R-La., said.

Fox News Digital’s Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump has signaled an openness to holding off on killing an oil deal forged between former President Joe Biden and Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, after he previously ordered Chevron and other U.S. firms to close up shop in oil-rich Venezuela.

Several Cabinet secretaries, including the Department of Energy’s Chris Wright, the Department of the Interior’s Doug Burgum and the Department of Commerce’s Howard Lutnick, were present during a meeting at the White House Wednesday, which also featured several oil executives and representatives of energy advocacy groups.

A source familiar with the events told Fox News Digital there was a brainstorming session as to how best to deal with Maduro and also help grow U.S. energy dominance and strengthen U.S. oil firms.

Trump reportedly explored ways to incentivize oil imports that would align with U.S. foreign policy goals while benefiting American consumers and workers.

Lutnick reportedly floated the idea of increasing pressure on Maduro by tariffing Venezuela instead of revoking leases for what are U.S. oil firms, Fox News Digital has learned. 

Trump was warm to the idea, as he has long advocated a hardline stance against the Caracas dictatorship, said the source, who declined to be identified. 

Trump charged in February that the Maduro regime had not lived up to its end of the deal forged by his Delawarean predecessor, particularly in the form of election reform after the dictator ‘won’ the latest disputed contest last year.

‘We are hereby reversing the concessions that Crooked Joe Biden gave to Nicolás Maduro, of Venezuela, on the oil transaction agreement, dated November 26, 2022,’ Trump announced on Truth Social.

‘Additionally, the regime has not been transporting the violent criminals that they sent into our Country (the Good Ole’ U.S.A.) back to Venezuela at the rapid pace that they had agreed to.’

Trump called Biden’s agreement ‘ineffective and unmet’ and ordered U.S. oil firms to begin winding down their presence in the country starting March 1.

Maduro deputy Delcy Rodriguez called the move ‘damaging and inexplicable.’ 

The source familiar with the meeting told Fox News Digital that Trump has indicated he wants to balance U.S. foreign policy challenges while seeing that the U.S. benefits from the heavy crude that Venezuela produces – which is tailor-made for the types of refineries that dot the Gulf Coast domestically and create U.S. jobs.

Fox News Digital reached out to Lutnick, Wright and the White House for comment. 

Wright previously told Reuters after the meeting that Trump’s ‘whole economic agenda is to lower prices in the United States and grow job opportunities in the United States.’

Earlier this month in Miami, Fox News Digital was one of a few media outlets on hand when Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla. – whose family fled the Castro dictatorship in the 1960s – hosted Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó at an event praising the Trump administration’s hardline stance toward dictatorship.

In an exclusive interview, Gimenez said Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua are ‘all pretty much tied together’ in the fact they are dictatorial regimes repressing their own people.

‘I expect this is just the first step in trying to liberate these countries. The people of Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua deserve freedom,’ he said of Trump’s initial overtures toward Venezuela.

During the event, Guaidó also offered remarks in Spanish praising Trump and slamming Central American despots.

‘[W]e need a strong, prosperous and safe Latin America – and one that will be safe, with democracy and freedom,’ he said.

‘I have no doubt in President Trump, and in the message that he is sending directly to the heart of those who financed the coup d’état perpetrated by the dictatorship on July 28, 2024 (the disputed/corrupt re-election of Maduro)…’ he said.

‘It is accurate, correct and timely to confront that dictatorship and also [send] a message to those who today usurp [power] in Cuba and Nicaragua that they will not have impunity,’ Guaidó added.

Venezuela had long been a friendly oil-trading partner of the U.S. until the leftist regime took root following the 1998 and 2000 elections under the rule of the late Hugo Chavez and foreign policy challenges arose.

The Taliban on Thursday released American hostage George Glezmann after holding him for more than two years in Afghanistan following negotiations between the Trump administration and Qatari officials, a diplomatic source with knowledge of the release told Fox News Digital.

Glezmann departed the Kabul airport Wednesday evening local time on his way to Doha where he will then be met by U.S. hostage envoy Adam Boehler along with a team from the Qatari Foreign Ministry.

The release of the 65-year-old American, abducted while visiting Kabul as a tourist on Dec. 5, 2022, comes after Boehler met with officials from the Afghan foreign ministry in direct talks alongside Qatari officials.

While Qatar has maintained diplomatic relations with Afghanistan following the 2021 Taliban takeover, the U.S. has not. 

The diplomatic source confirmed that Glezmann’s release was done as a ‘goodwill gesture’ by the Taliban as an indication of ‘trust’ in Qatar’s continued role as intermediary between Washington and Kabul. 

The exchange differs from the release of two other Americans freed earlier this year, including Ryan Corbett and William Mckenty, who were released in exchange for a Taliban member in U.S. custody in a final hour deal struck by the Biden administration.

Secretary of State Macro Rubio championed the release and said, ‘George Glezmann is free. George was wrongfully detained in Afghanistan for two and a half years, but now he’s on his way to be reunited with his wife Aleksandra. Welcome home, George!’

The Trump administration has made hostage releases around the globe a top priority, as well as renewing relations with adversarial nations. 

It is unclear at this point if Boehler’s meeting with the Afghan foreign ministry signifies the U.S. will establish official diplomatic ties with the Taliban, particularly as Washington tries to secure the release of another American still held in Afghanistan.

U.S. citizen Mahmood Habibi has been held by the Taliban for more than two years, though the insurgent-run goverment denies it is holding him. 

Check back on this developing story. 

President Donald Trump accused former President Joe Biden on Sunday of using an autopen to sign important documents — including pardons on including some for lawmakers who served on the House Select Committee to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Trump claimed that Biden’s more than 8,000 pardons were void and that Biden did not know what documents he was signing through the automated device, calling into question Biden’s mental sharpness while in office and whether he personally approved all official actions. 

What is an autopen, and how does it work?

An autopen is a device that physically holds a pen and is programmed to replicate a person’s signature. It is not a stamp or a digitized print of someone’s signature, and various autopen machines have the capability to hold different types of pens, ranging from ballpoint to permanent marker, according to descriptions of autopen machines available for purchase. 

Modern machines allow someone to save a signature on a smart card or USB flash drive, and then transfer it to the machine. To activate the device, one inserts the pen and then either presses a button or uses a foot pedal to create the signature. 

Other autopen machines have the capacity to write full-length letters for mass, handwritten mail campaigns, where one can select various fonts and input data to determine spacing, size, angle, among other things. 

Use of an autopen is common for lawmakers and other figures like celebrities, who may be required to sign a large swath of documents at one time. For example, former President Barack Obama signed off on an aide using an autopen machine in 2011 to reauthorize the Patriot Act, while he was abroad in France and unable to physically sign it himself. 

That episode marked the first known incident of a president signing legislation with an autopen, even though other presidents like Lyndon B. Johnson were photographed with the machine and reportedly used it to sign correspondence after the machine’s invention during World War II. 

A White House official confirmed to Fox News Digital Tuesday that Trump uses his hand signature on every legally operational or binding document, in keeping with his administration’s official policy during both terms. However, Trump admitted he uses one for letters. 

Trump told reporters on Air Force One Sunday that although he employs an autopen for correspondence, it is ‘disgraceful’ to use one when signing documents such as pardons.

However, the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel determined in 2005 that the president is authorized to use an autopen to sign bills into law. More recently, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued a ruling in February that said the absence of ‘a writing does not equate to proof that a commutation did not occur.’

‘The constitutional text is thus silent as to any particular form the President’s clemency act must take to be effective,’ the circuit court said in its opinion.

Despite Trump’s concerns over the validity of Biden’s pardons due to the alleged use of an autopen, constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley told Fox News Digital that the odds of successfully legally challenging them in court are ‘vanishingly low.’ 

‘Presidents are allowed to use the autopen and courts will not presume a dead-hand conspiracy,’ Turley said. 

A spokesperson for Biden did not provide comment on the record to Fox News Digital. 

Trump’s attacks on Biden over the use of an autopen come after the Oversight Project with conservative think-tank The Heritage Foundation released a report March 6 claiming that it conducted an analysis of Biden documents, and found that a majority of documents signed during his administration used an autopen.

‘This apparent use raises concerns about: whether President Biden personally authorized each official act; whether or which unelected staff controlled the autopen device; and whether they acted with his approval,’ the Oversight Project said in a report released Monday. 

The Associated Press and Fox News’ Emma Colton contributed to this report. 

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said he was ‘skeptical’ of Dr. Mehmet Oz’s views, particularly on transgender procedures for minors and abortion, and released a series of questions Wednesday that he plans to ask President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) during his road to confirmation. 

‘I’ve been reading up on Dr. Oz – I see he’s praised trans surgeries for minors and supported hormone treatments & puberty blockers for kids in the past,’ Hawley wrote on X on Wednesday. ‘And has also criticized state laws protecting life. I hope he’s changed his views to match President Trump! We need the Trump agenda at CMS.’ 

In a series of written questions for Oz, Hawley asked the former heart surgeon and TV personality if his views have changed since hosting a television show. 

Hawley noted that Oz had on his show ‘various transgender advocates as well as a surgeon who performed transgender surgery’ and ‘also invited children to discuss switching genders and praised parents for helping their children ‘transition’.’  

‘Do you support President Trump’s position that gender transition procedures for minors should be banned?’ one question directed at Oz and shared by Hawley’s press office asked. 

The senator also asked if Trump’s nominee supported the president’s executive order barring biological men from competing in women’s sports. 

‘Do you believe that CMS has a role in promoting or supporting gender transition surgery in any way?’ Hawley asked. 

The senator asked Oz if he would commit to never issuing a National Coverage Determination at CMS for ‘gender reassignment surgery’ or equivalent procedures, including the use of hormone and puberty blockers, in line with Trump’s policies. He also asked if Oz would support Trump’s efforts to halt federal funding to hospitals that provide so-called ‘gender-affirming care’ to minors.

Hawley noted Oz had stated in the past that he did not want to ‘interfere’ with doctors prescribing puberty blockers for minor children and asked if that was still his position. 

‘Do you believe the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, which every Justice appointed by President Trump supported, was correctly decided?’ Hawley asked. 

The senator questioned whether Oz’s position has changed since he in 2019 opposed state limitations on abortion related to fetal heartbeat by describing it as ‘little electrical exchanges in the cell that no one would hear or think about as a heart.’ 

In 2019, Oz predicted a state would face a ‘big sucking sound of business leaving’ over its pro-life law, the senator noted, asking Trump’s nominee to answer if he would allow his decisions as head of CMS to be ‘influenced by corporate preferences.’ 

Oz testified last week that CMS would abide by the Hyde Amendment, which bars federal taxpayer dollars from funding abortions.

‘As a physician, I’ve been in the room when there’s some difficult conversations happening. I don’t want the federal government involved with that at all,’ Oz stated in 2022, according to Hawley’s office. The senator cited how Oz also said he did not want the federal government ‘impinging’ on actions the states may make regarding abortion.

‘But many federal laws and regulations implicate life issues,’ Hawley said. ‘President Trump’s administration has opposed federal funding for abortion, for example, at home and abroad. Will you support the President’s position and commit to upholding existing laws that prevent federal funds from being used for abortions?’ 

Hawley asked Oz if he would uphold protections for conscience rights related to abortion, including under the Weldon, Church and Coats-Snowe Amendments. 

The senator noted that CMS under Trump approved waivers allowing states to exclude abortion-performing clinics from the Medicaid program and asked Oz if he would support the president’s policy and back similar waivers if he is confirmed by the Senate. Hawley questioned whether Oz would ‘support action at the federal level to directly exclude abortion providers from the Medicaid program.’ 

‘The Biden administration issued guidance via CMS suggesting that the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) required hospitals to perform abortions, overriding state laws,’ Hawley noted. The senator asked Oz if he would return to the Trump policy and ‘clarify that EMTALA does not mandate abortions.’ 

Finally, Hawley noted that CMS under Trump required separate billing plans that covered abortion in Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketing plans and the Biden administration eliminated that requirement. He asked if Oz would support returning Trump’s policy of ‘transparent billing practices and ensure that consumers pay properly separate charges for abortion.’ 

The 64-year-old was a respected heart surgeon who turned into a popular TV pitchman. He sold everything from supplements to private health insurance plans on ‘The Dr. Oz Show,’ which ran for 13 seasons and helped him amass a fortune.

If confirmed, Oz will oversee health insurance for about 150 million Americans enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid or ACA coverage. As CMS administrator, he could wield significant power over most health companies operating in the U.S., because he can make decisions about who and what is covered by Medicare and Medicaid.

Oz faced over two and a half hours of questioning Friday before the Republican-controlled Senate Finance Committee, which has yet to vote on whether to forward his nomination to the full Senate for consideration. Hawley is not a Finance Committee member and did not question Oz during the hearing last week.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.