1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my grave concern regarding President Donald Trump's recent threats to cancel all documents signed by his predecessor using an autopen. This alarming declaration not only lacks legal merit but also threatens to destabilize our government's operations and undermine the continuity of our democracy. The use of autopens for signing official documents is a well-established practice that has been utilized by numerous administrations across party lines. It serves as an essential tool for presidents who must efficiently manage a multitude of responsibilities, including signing a vast number of documents daily. To suddenly claim that this long-accepted method renders documents illegal is both misleading and potentially harmful to our governmental processes. President Trump's accusations regarding the cognitive abilities of his predecessor and threats of perjury charges are particularly troubling. These statements appear to be politically motivated attempts to retroactively delegitimize the previous administration's actions rather than genuine concerns about governmental procedure. It is crucial to emphasize that the use of an autopen does not diminish a president's involvement or decision-making authority in any way. The weaponization of this issue by some members of the Republican party to question the validity of executive orders and legislation sets a dangerous precedent. It threatens to create unnecessary chaos in our legal and political systems, potentially impacting the implementation of critical policies and laws that have been in effect for years. I strongly urge you to take a firm stand against these unfounded claims and publicly defend the legitimacy of documents signed via autopen during the previous administration. Our nation needs its elected officials to focus on addressing real issues facing our country, not engaging in baseless attacks that only serve to further divide us and create instability. Please consider making a public statement affirming the validity of autopen-signed documents from the previous administration and work with your colleagues to ensure that this practice, which has served administrations of both parties well, is not used as a political tool to retroactively undermine past presidencies. The strength of our democracy depends on respect for established governmental practices and the peaceful transition of power between administrations. We must not allow unfounded claims to erode these fundamental principles of our republic.