Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) wasted no time Monday morning calling for immediate investigations into January 6 Select Committee members, specifically Republicans Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney, after President Donald Trump called their pardons invalid last night.
Like Trump, Banks insists that the pardons—issued by then-President Joe Biden—were rendered null and void due to alleged circumstances surrounding the use of an autopen to affix Biden’s signature on official documents.
In a statement shared on X, Banks declared:
“Now that we know their pardons were illegitimately signed by autopen, rendering them legally invalid, an investigation into the actions of every single committee member should be launched immediately!”
🚨 BREAKING: Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) now demands investigations into Adam Kinzinger, Liz Cheney and other J6 committee members after their pardons were declared null and void by Trump over the use of auto pen.
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 17, 2025
"Now that we know that their pardons were illegitimately signed by… pic.twitter.com/T31caMxM5p
The Jan. 6 committee, formed to investigate the 2021 Capitol riot, included Kinzinger and Cheney—both heavily criticized by Republicans for their participation—with Trump referring to it as the “Unselect Committee of Political Thugs.”
The autopen controversy stems from Trump’s claim that pardons issued by Biden to members of the select committee are invalid because they were improperly signed using an autopen to replicate Biden’s signature while he was absent and possibly unaware of the approvals.
On Jan. 20, 2025—in the final moments of his presidency—Biden issued preemptive pardons to all nine members of the select committee. The move was intended to shield them from potential prosecution or retaliation by the incoming Trump administration, which had threatened legal action over their roles in investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Committee members expressed gratitude for the pardons, describing them as necessary protections against threats of “criminal violence or criminal prosecution” from Trump allies. However, they insisted the pardons were not an admission of wrongdoing, instead framing their actions as a commitment to upholding the law.
Trump declared these pardons “VOID, VACANT, AND OF NO FURTHER FORCE OR EFFECT” on Truth Social Sunday night, arguing that the circumstances involving the use of the autopen renders them legally invalid.
Still, speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump noted that the decision is not his but “would be up to a court.”
Q: "On the Biden autopen. Are those executive orders, those pardons…now null and void?"
— CSPAN (@cspan) March 17, 2025
Pres. Trump: "I think so. It’s not my decision. That’ll be up to a court. But I would say that they’re null and void because I’m sure Biden didn’t have any idea that it was taking place." pic.twitter.com/p0a9AqRbck
While the use of an autopen by U.S. presidents is not new and has been deemed legally valid in many contexts, the issue remains controversial. A 2005 Department of Justice opinion stated, “The President need not personally perform the physical act of affixing his signature to a bill he approves and decides to sign in order for the bill to become law.”
Despite this precedent, the Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project has raised concerns, claiming that White House staff excessively relied on the autopen to place Biden’s name on critical documents in an effort to undermine Trump’s incoming America First agenda.
According to reporting from the New York Post, an unnamed former Biden staffer corroborated Heritage’s claims, alleging that Biden’s advisers unilaterally decided which official documents would be signed via autopen without the president’s direct involvement.
However, the Post declined to publish the ex-staffer’s name, citing the lack of additional evidence and “refutations by other colleagues” who dismissed the allegations.
Observers note that while Trump’s declaration on Truth Social holds no legal standing—since presidents cannot unilaterally void pardons or make rulings via social media—it appears aimed at justifying investigations into political opponents like former Republican Representatives Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney.
As seen in his Monday morning statement, Senator Banks is already capitalizing on Trump’s claim.
For his part, Kinzinger, a prolific social media user himself, has already responded to calls from Trump and his former GOP colleagues for an investigation into his role.
Donald, bring it. I’m so tired of your victimy whiney belly aching crap. You friggin won and you STILL are complaining all the time.
— Adam Kinzinger (Slava Ukraini) 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@AdamKinzinger) March 17, 2025
BRING IT YOU SMALL LITTLE BOY pic.twitter.com/u2XMrcIZyN
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Kinzinger what a load of crap.
I agree that both of them as well as other should be investigated. Let them sit in the hot seat for the duration.