June 2, 2025
President Autopen and the Crime of Forgery
By Brian C. Joondeph
Forgery is a crime we don’t hear much about anymore since few people write checks and instead rely on electronic payment methods. It can take many forms, such as signing a check or document in someone else’s name without their permission or knowledge.
Creating a false document like a driver’s license was once a teenage rite of passage, but it was much easier in my day when the license was a piece of paper rather than a hardened piece of plastic containing myriad anti-fraud provisions.
A skilled painter could forge a masterpiece, and who knows how many forgeries are displayed in museums while the original resides in some wealthy person’s library?
Forgery can be a state or federal crime depending on the circumstances. ChatGPT summarizes the differences.
Most forgery cases — such as forging checks, personal documents, or signatures — are prosecuted under state laws. Each state defines and penalizes forgery differently, but it’s typically a felony if the document has legal or financial significance.
Forgery becomes a federal offense when it involves:
· Federal documents (e.g., passports, immigration papers, military IDs)
· U.S. currency or Treasury checks
· Interstate commerce or communication (e.g., forging checks used across state lines)
· Federal institutions (e.g., IRS, Social Security)
more
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2025/06/president_autopen_and_the_crime_of_forgery.html
