Senate Republicans hold hearing on Biden's mental fitness as Democrats boycott
WASHINGTON — Nearly six months after Joe Biden left the White House, Senate Republicans are still scrutinizing his presidency, kicking off the first in what's expected to be a series of congressional hearings this year on his mental fitness in office.
Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee brought in three witnesses Wednesday — none of whom served in Biden's administration — to scrutinize his time in office, arguing that the former president, his staff and the media must be held accountable. Democrats boycotted the hearing and criticized Republicans for 'armchair-diagnosing' Biden when the committee could be looking into serious matters.
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who co-chaired the hearing, said that they will aim to 'shine a light on exactly what went on in the White House during Biden's presidency.'
'We simply cannot ignore what transpired because President Biden is no longer in office,' Cornyn said.
A spokesperson for Biden declined to comment on the hearing.
It was the first in what could be several hearings about Biden in the coming months. Over in the House, the Oversight Committee has subpoenaed several of Biden's former staff members, along with his White House doctor, ordering him to testify at a June 27 hearing 'as part of the investigation into the cover-up of President Joe Biden's cognitive decline.'
Questions about Biden's age and fitness erupted in the summer after his disastrous performance in a debate against Republican challenger Donald Trump, which ultimately led to the Democrat's withdrawal from the race.
Even after Trump won back the presidency in November, Republicans have continued to hammer on Biden's age, citing in part new reporting about Biden that was published this year.
Trump now alleges that Biden administration officials may have forged the former president's signature and taken sweeping actions without his knowledge, though he provided no evidence of that happening. Trump has ordered lawyers at the White House and the Justice Department to investigate.
Republicans played clips during the hearing Wednesday of Democrats defending Biden. In the montage, the Democrats talk about how Biden was mentally sharp when he was in office.
'Most Democrats on this committee have chosen to all but boycott the hearing and have failed to call a single witness,' Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) said. 'They have chosen to ignore this issue, like they ignored President Biden's decline.'
Sen. Dick Durbin, the committee's top Democrat, criticized Republicans for holding a hearing on the last president at a time when there are 'numerous critical challenges facing the nation that are under our jurisdiction.'
'Apparently armchair-diagnosing former President Biden is more important than the issues of grave concern,' said Durbin of Illinois.
After his opening remarks, Durbin played a video montage of his own — but with clips of Trump speaking that he said reflected the 'cognitive ability' of the current president. Durbin left the hearing after his opening remarks.
Three witnesses testified: former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, former White House official Theodore Wold and University of Virginia law professor John Harrison. Spicer and Wold both served under Trump.
Much of the focus was on Biden's alleged use of an autopen. Trump has repeated long-standing allegations that the Biden White House relied on an autopen to sign presidential pardons, executive orders and other key documents, claiming that its use cast doubt on their validity.
Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) also questioned Spicer on 'what mechanisms should we put in place' to hold the media accountable 'for not actually following what is clearly in front of them.'
Cappelletti writes for the Associated Press.
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