• House Republicans demand DOJ investigation into Biden's autopen usage.
• The report questions Biden's cognitive abilities during his presidency.
• Democrats label the investigation as baseless and a political distraction.
• Key aides invoked the Fifth Amendment during investigations.
• Report suggests Biden's autopen actions be deemed "null and void."

House Republicans have formally requested the Justice Department to investigate the Biden administration's use of an autopen, claiming it could nullify various actions taken during his presidency, particularly pardons. This request is outlined in a 100-page report by the House Oversight Committee, which argues that President Biden's cognitive impairments may have led to significant decisions being made without his full awareness, as reported by both The Hill and Los Angeles Times.

The rationale behind the investigation claims that actions executed using the autopen might be invalid unless there is specific proof that Biden personally approved them. House Oversight Chair James Comer noted that if there isn't adequate documentation of Biden's consent, those actions should be treated as void, a stance echoed in various reports CBS News and ABC News cited.

The report alleges a “cover-up” orchestrated by Biden’s inner circle regarding his cognitive state, with assertions that some actions lacked proper documentation and that others were signed without his explicit knowledge. Despite these claims, no concrete evidence has been presented to support that aides acted without Biden’s authorization during his presidency, according to The Hill and Los Angeles Times.

Democrats quickly countered the report’s findings, labeling it a “political distraction” rather than a substantive investigation. A Biden spokesperson described the accusations as baseless and reaffirmed that the decisions made during his administration were accepted by him. This opposition is highlighted in statements from both CBS News and ABC News.

The inquiry has also drawn attention to several senior officials within Biden’s administration who opted to invoke their Fifth Amendment rights during testimonies. The report criticizes this, suggesting that their refusals to testify should warrant further scrutiny by authorities, a point also raised by The Hill and ABC News.

Overall, the House GOP report positions itself as a call for greater oversight over presidential powers and actions, reflecting ongoing tensions between the political parties. The discussions around Biden’s mental fitness and the autopen usage are likely to continue as a point of contention between Republican and Democratic lawmakers, as highlighted by Los Angeles Times, CBS News, and ABC News.