Newly released emails from the Justice Department reveal that senior officials warned the Biden administration against the use of sweeping autopen pardons issued in January 2025. These last-minute clemency orders, approved by President Joe Biden days before leaving office, were criticized by top Justice Department officials for being legally flawed and for granting pardons to violent offenders, including individuals convicted of murder. The department officials expressed concern that the White House inaccurately labeled the clemency recipients as "nonviolent" offenders, contradicting the nature of some pardoned individuals. The warnings highlighted the risks associated with the mass use of autopen technology to sign thousands of pardons without thorough review or adherence to intended criteria. The controversy raises questions about the administration’s oversight and decision-making process in the final days of Biden’s presidency.