Oversight Project Autopen Investigation Lands Drug Dealer Back Behind Bars
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2026
Washington, D.C.– The Oversight Project applauds Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier for his swift action in returning a criminal, drug trafficker back where he belongs: behind bars. James Howard Dobbs, Jr., also known as “Red,” had his federal prison sentence commuted by the Autopen during the final days of the Biden Administration and he was released by the Trump Administration’s Department of Justice, even though President Trump has said the Autopen commutations were illegitimate. Because of the Oversight Project’s investigation into who was actually running the White House while President Biden was in office (the Autopen), criminals that were commuted by the Autopen are being sent back. Our non-stop advocacy on the cause of actual accountability has been heard loud and clear by Attorney General Utheimer who is stepping up and taking action.
In February, the Oversight Project flagged for Attorney General Uthmeier that career criminal Oscar Fowler III was set to be released back onto the streets with a commutation given to him by the Biden Autopen. Thankfully, Attorney General Uthmeier re-arrested him, keeping the community safe.
The Oversight Project applauds Attorney General James Uthmeier for taking seriously when President Trump said that any pardons or commutations made by the Autopen are “null and void.” We encourage Florida to keep up the good work and continue making arrests for those given commutations by the Autopen. We continue to call on the U.S. Department of Justice to follow President Trump’s orders that Autopen actions are invalid and to take steps such as the prosecution of Anthony Fauci and others.
Oversight Project President Mike Howell gave this statement:
“The road to accountability is long but the Oversight Project bends it towards justice. We haven't stopped since we broke the autopen scandal and have been sounding the alarm that violent criminals are still being released now due to their invalid autopen paperwork being treated legitimately. We are happy that our work is helping those with guns and handcuffs deliver results for American safety.
Our small but mighty team isn’t stopping here. We just secured a major win in federal court against Joe Biden over autopen matters and are looking forward to winning again over his appeal. We hope for even more autopen wins to be racked up for the American People, such as the prosecution of Anthony Fauci. He should not be able to hide behind an invalid pardon either.”
###