Readers respond to Question of the Week:

Are pardons null with an autopen?

Good question

I thought they were limited to letters to kids, the electorate, congratulatory to various and sundry citizens. With today’s technology and our autofill signatures for medical records and real estate transactions I say the question is was Joe present when the autopen went down the assembly line? Did he verbally endorse each? So that it was obvious he was pardoning each person and knew so?

As to a rescission by the court I say no. Unless Joe had been impeached, tried and found incompetent I say the autopen was sufficient. I like Trump, voted for him three times, but he picks fights he need not, e.g. Gulf of Mexico, now America, Canada being a 51st state, Greenland becoming a U.S. territory. Now the autopen. I have said from 2020 Joe wasn’t hitting on all eight cylinders, and Wilson comes to mind. Trump needs to cool his jets on this. There are bigger fish to fry.

— Mary Emily Smiley, Lawndale

All Biden autopen documents should be questioned

Biden’s mental capacity during the latter part of his administration was limited. He displayed confusion, lack of understanding, etc. The use of an autopen during this period should be questioned because he may not have issued those pardons personally. Additionally other autopen documents during this period should be questioned. If a person is so limited mentally and or physically to manually sign documents with a pen then those documents should be questioned as to their authenticity.

— Kenneth M. Bezich, Rolling Hills

Trump’s revenge is in play

Trump is apoplectic about exacting revenge and is digging in the weeds for a way to persecute his perceived enemies. Technology allows us to do many things that were previously impossible. Trump legislates by tweet. What’s the difference?

— Susan Bernard, West Hills

Autopen signature is valid

If the president signs a document himself or signs with autopen it makes no difference. He is still giving his consent to sign the document.

— Richard Metzger, Porter Ranch