Conservatives criticized NBC News over a report comparing a Republican congressman’s use of a digital signature with former President Joe Biden’s use of an autopen to grant presidential pardons.

In an article published on Tuesday with the headline, “Lead investigator into Biden’s use of an autopen signed letters with a digital signature,” the outlet examined letters from Rep. James Comer (R-KY) in Adobe Acrobat and found they were signed digitally. Comer is the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating Biden’s use of the autopen.

Biden recently admitted he used the autopen for mass pardons, but “did not individually approve each name for the categorical pardons that applied to large numbers of people,” according to The New York Times. Instead, the former president “signed off on the standards he wanted to be used to determine which convicts would qualify for a reduction in sentence.”

A Comer spokesperson called the comparison “absurd.”

“Using digital signatures for official correspondence is a common practice for both Republicans and Democrats in the House of Representatives. Chairman Comer has never hidden the fact that he uses a digital signature when appropriate, and he approves all official correspondence that is signed digitally,” a spokeswoman from the House Oversight Committee told NBC News. “Legally binding subpoenas issued by Chairman Comer always bear a wet signature and are never signed using an autopen or digital signature. Comparing Chairman Comer’s use of digital signatures for letters to the unauthorized use of an autopen in the Biden White House for legally binding executive actions is absurd and misleading. The two are not even remotely comparable.”

Later in the story, NBC News noted digital signatures are widely used in Congress.

“The use of digital signatures has been common in Washington for decades, both in the White House and in Congress,” the report said. “Members of Congress and their staff regularly use printed versions of their signatures to respond to the voluminous amount of correspondence they receive.”

Comer responded to the story on social media.

“There’s still time to delete this, Ryan,” he said in response to one of the report’s authors, Ryan Nobles. The post included a photoshopped image of Nobles in clown makeup.

There’s still time to delete this, Ryan. https://t.co/61bly5fTsW pic.twitter.com/PIcuiBRpIj

— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) July 15, 2025

Conservatives tore into the outlet on social media.

“I’m trying to understand why this was written, other than to push Democrat propaganda and avoid covering the investigation into Biden’s decline,” Mollie Hemingway, editor in chief of The Federalist, said. “Is the argument from @ryanobles and @MZanona that Comer doesn’t know he’s sending these letters/subpoenas he talks about all the time?”

I'm trying to understand why this was written, other than to push Democrat propaganda and avoid covering the investigation into Biden's decline. Is the argument from @ryanobles and @MZanona that Comer doesn't know he's sending these letters/subpoenas he talks about all the time?

— Mollie (@MZHemingway) July 15, 2025

“This is easily one of the media’s lamest attempts to downplay a Democrat scandal,” GOP communications specialist Greg Price posted.

"Using Adobe Acrobat to sign a letter is totally the same thing as Biden's un-elected staff using his autopen to issue presidential pardons without his knowledge." ????

This is easily one of the media's lamest attempts to downplay a Democrat scandal. https://t.co/cmaHV0B2B1

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) July 15, 2025

“NBC News has no idea how Adobe Acrobat works. Just amazing,” conservative pundit Stephen L. Miller said.

NBC News has no idea how Adobe Acrobat works. Just amazing. https://t.co/8kEq7dWAlY pic.twitter.com/ImoJS7VcM8

— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) July 15, 2025

“Imagine being so stupid and corrupt as to write this article and think it’s even remotely analogous to a cabal of White House staffers taking advantage of a president with dementia and using his mental infirmity as an excuse to commandeer the powers of the presidency,” said The Federalist CEO Sean Davis.

Imagine being so stupid and corrupt as to write this article and think it’s even remotely analogous to a cabal of White House staffers taking advantage of a president with dementia and using his mental infirmity as an excuse to commandeer the powers of the presidency. https://t.co/qMidPL7v03

— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) July 15, 2025