Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), one of only two Republicans on the Jan. 6 committee that investigated President Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election, is daring Trump to criminally charge him, as suggested in a recent rant.
Kinzinger was one of many people pardoned by former President Joe Biden before leaving office in January, but after a right-wing group reported earlier this month that the pardons were signed with an autopen, Trump declared them “VOID” on Sunday.
Kinzinger, a frequent Trump critic, challenged him Monday on CNN to take the next step.
“First off, I’m trying to figure out what he’s trying to distract from, ’cause that’s what all this is — always a distraction to try to get people’s attention,” according to Jake Tapper. “Perhaps he hasn’t felt like he’s received enough attention. But look at Jake. It’s like, “Bring it on.”
The Oversight Project, a branch of the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, raised concerns on social media earlier this month about the validity of documents Biden allegedly signed electronically. These documents included preemptive pardons for House committee members who investigated the 2021 riot in the United States Capitol.
While many conservatives argue that Biden’s pardons are invalid because an autopen was used, former President Barack Obama also used the method, which is not prohibited by the United States Constitution, as numerous legal experts have pointed out since the controversy started.
Furthermore, memos from 1929 and 2005 from the Office of the Solicitor General and the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel state that a president’s hand signature is not required for a pardon. Perhaps most notably, an 1868 ruling declared that presidential pardons are final once issued.
“I’m like, look, we made it very clear what happened on Jan. 6,” Kinzinger said Monday. “America reached a decision. And there is one person who is obsessed with the sixth because he has still been deemed guilty in the court of public opinion: Donald Trump.”
“And he can’t handle it,” Kinzinger insisted. “He obsesses about it.”
Kinzinger: So my reaction to him is like, you know what? Then bring it. Stop talking about it. Bring the charges then if you really want to do it. Because we will crush you in court. And it’ll make me three times more effective against you. pic.twitter.com/oKFvEv8twk
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 17, 2025
Fox News recently claimed that it examined more than 20 executive orders signed by Biden between 2021 and 2024 and discovered an identical signature on each—only to add that signatures “were also the same” on Trump’s executive orders signed during both of his terms.
Trump admitted Monday to NBC News that he has used autopen signatures.
“So, my reaction to him is, you know what? “Then bring it!” Kinzinger spoke on Monday about potential charges. “Quit talking about it!” Stop being so verbose. Stop pretending you’re tough. Bring the charges if you truly want to do it, because we will crush you in court.”