Adam Kinzinger dares Donald Trump to arrest him after POTUS declares Joe Biden pardons as ‘void’

WASHINGTON, DC: Former Rep Adam Kinzinger dared Donald Trump to criminally charge him after the POTUS declared that former president Joe Biden's pardons are "void."

Kinzinger was one of the two Republicans on the January 6 Committee that investigated Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election, according to the Huff Post.

Moreover, he was among many people Biden pardoned before leaving office in January 2025. Trump claimed that the pardons were signed using an autopen and Biden did not know about them. 

Adam Kinzinger dares Donald Trump to arrest him

Speaking with CNN's Jake Tapper on Monday, March 17, Adam Kinzinger said, "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."

The Republican continued, "Or maybe he hasn’t felt like he’s gotten enough attention. But look, Jake. It’s like, bring it on."

The Oversight Project—a branch of the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation—took to social media earlier in March and cast doubt over the validity of documents it claims Biden had signed using autopen, per the outlet.

The documents included preemptive pardons for House Committee members investigating the US Capitol riot in 2021.

Speaking about the subject, Kinzinger said, "I’m like, look, we made it very clear what happened on January 6. America made a decision. And there is one person that’s obsessed about the sixth because he still has been basically deemed guilty in the court of public opinion, and that’s Donald Trump."

"And he can’t handle it. He obsesses about it," he added.

Talking about the potential charges, Kinzinger continued, "So, my reaction to him is like, you know what? Then bring it! Stop talking about it! Stop being all verbose. Stop pretending like you’re tough. Bring the charges then if you really want to do it, because we will crush you in court. It will make me three times more effective against you."

Donald Trump declares Joe Biden's pardon as 'void'

Donald Trump took to his Truth Social account on Sunday, March 16, and wrote that Joe Biden's "pardons" were "void, vacant, and of no further force or effect" as autopen was used to sign them, the Daily Mail reported.

He wrote, "In other words, Joe Biden did not sign them (Pardons) but, more importantly, he did not know anything about them! The necessary Pardoning Documents were not explained to, or approved by, Biden. He knew nothing about them, and the people that did may have committed a crime."

"Therefore, those on the Unselect Committee, who destroyed and deleted ALL evidence obtained during their two year Witch Hunt of me, and many other innocent people, should fully understand that they are subject to investigation at the highest level. The fact is, they were probably responsible for the Documents that were signed on their behalf without the knowledge or consent of the Worst President in the History of our Country, Crooked Joe Biden!," the POTUS added.

Biden had issued a series of preemptive pardons to many individuals, including his family members like brothers James and Francis Biden, sister Valerie Biden Owens, and their spouses, during his final hours in office, per the outlet.

Additionally, he also stated that his family had been "subjected to unrelenting attacks and threats, motivated solely by a desire to hurt me - the worst kind of partisan politics."

Furthermore, he issued preemptive pardons for members of the January 6 Committee, including panel Chairman Rep Bennie Thompson and former Republican Rep Liz Cheney, according to Daily Mail.

Interestingly, Trump's assertion that the use of an autopen invalidates these pardons is unprecedented. The autopen has been used by many former presidents to sign different documents, including legislation and executive orders when they are unavailable to sign them personally, per the outlet.

Meanwhile, many legal experts usually uphold the validity of autopen signatures.

However, using these signatures specifically for presidential pardons has not been extensively tested in courts and opens room for debate.

Internet slams Adam Kinzinger for his statement

Several internet users slammed Adam Kinzinger as he dared Donald Trump to criminally charge and arrest him after the POTUS declared ex-president Joe Biden's pardons as "void."

A user wrote on X, "The sign of panic," while another added, "Three times zero is zero."

One person stated, "This scared little rabbit is cooking in his own juices. By the time charges come down, he’ll be a quivering mass of jello," whereas another remarked, "His bluff will be called, and it won’t feel nice."

One netizen wrote, "Animated people are always liars," while another commented, "Careful what you wish for."

Another added, "This is grand standing by a loser. So pathetic."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.