Latest news with #CognitiveDecline
CBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Trump orders a review of Biden White House, citing political rival's 'cognitive decline'
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday directed his administration to investigate Joe Biden's actions as president, alleging aides masked his predecessor's "cognitive decline" and casting doubts on the legitimacy of his use of the autopen to sign pardons and other documents. The order marked a significant escalation in Trump's targeting of political adversaries and could lay the groundwork for arguments by the Republican that a range of Biden's actions as president were invalid. Biden responded in a statement Wednesday night: "Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency. I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations. Any suggestion that I didn't is ridiculous and false." The Justice Department under Democratic and Republican administrations has recognized the use of an autopen to sign legislation and issue pardons for decades, Trump presented no evidence that Biden was unaware of the actions taken in his name, and the president's absolute pardon power is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. "The American public was purposefully shielded from discovering who wielded the executive power, all while Biden's signature was deployed across thousands of documents to effect radical policy shifts," Trump wrote in memo. Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House counsel David Warrington to handle the investigation. Questions 'validity' of Biden decisions, signatures It's unclear how far Trump will push this effort, which would face certain legal challenges. But it reflects his fixation on Biden, who defeated him in 2020, an election that Trump never conceded and continues to falsely claim was rigged against him. This week the president amplified a wild conspiracy theory that Biden died in 2020 and was replaced by a robotic clone. Trump frequently suggests that Biden was wrong to use an autopen, a mechanical device that replicates a person's authentic signature. Although they've been used in the White House for decades, Trump claims that Biden's aides were usurping presidential authority, with the memo questioning "the validity of … resulting Presidential policy decisions." WATCH l Explaining White House-driven autopen controversy: Can Trump really revoke Biden's pardons? | About That 3 months ago Duration 11:10 Biden issued pardons for his two brothers and his sister shortly before leaving office, hoping to shield them from potential prosecution under Trump, who had promised retribution during last year's campaign. Other pardon recipients included members of a congressional committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, which included two Republicans now maligned by Trump. Trump, indicted in four separate criminal matters until three of those cases fell away in the wake of his November election win, spent considerable time railing on the campaign trail about a justice system he said was weaponized against Republicans, even as Democrats pointed out that members of their own party suspected of criminal wrongdoing had been investigated by the Justice Department of Biden's presidency. But now it is Trump who is suggesting that several political rivals should be investigated. He has directed investigations of Chris Krebs, a former cybersecurity official who disputed Trump's claims of a stolen election in 2020, and Miles Taylor, a former Department of Homeland Security official who wrote an anonymous op-ed sharply critical of the president in 2018. As well, the Trump administration has said it will look into the intent of an Instagram post made by former FBI director James Comey, fired in 2017 by Trump, as well as investigate former Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo of New York for possible criminal wrongdoing over statements he's made about COVID-19 deaths in the state's nursing homes. Republicans could subpoena Biden White House staff Meanwhile, James Comer of Kentucky, the Republican chair of the House oversight committee, requested transcribed interviews with five Biden aides, alleging they had participated in a "cover-up" that amounted to "one of the greatest scandals in our nation's history." Interviews were requested with White House senior advisers Mike Donilon and Anita Dunn, former White House chief of staff Ron Klain, former deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed and Steve Ricchetti, a former counselor to the president. "They must appear before the House oversight committee and provide truthful answers about President Biden's cognitive state and who was calling the shots," said Comer, who led efforts to impeach Biden in the past two years that were mocked by Democrats as lacking a factual basis. Comer also reiterated his call for Biden's physician, Kevin O'Connor, and former senior White House aides Annie Tomasini, Anthony Bernal, Ashley Williams and Neera Tanden to appear before the committee. He warned subpoenas would be issued this week if they refuse to schedule voluntary interviews. Republicans on the committee are eager to pursue the investigation. "The American people didn't elect a bureaucracy to run the country," said Rep. Brandon Gill, a freshman Republican from Texas. "I think that the American people deserve to know the truth, and they want to know the truth of what happened." The Republican congressional inquiry so far has focused on the final executive actions of Biden's administration, which included the issuing of new federal rules and presidential pardons that they claim may be invalid. Comer cited the book Original Sin by CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios's Alex Thompson, which details concerns and debates inside the White House and Democratic Party over Biden's mental state and age. In the book, Tapper and Thompson wrote, "Five people were running the country, and Joe Biden was at best a senior member of the board." Biden and members of his family have vigorously denied the book's claims. "This book is political fairy smut for the permanent, professional chattering class," said Naomi Biden, the former president's granddaughter. Biden withdrew from the presidential race last summer after a debate against Trump in which he appeared to lose his train of thought multiple times, muttered inaudible answers and misnamed different government programs. The disastrous debate performance pushed questions about his age and mental acuity to the forefront, ultimately leading Biden to withdraw from the presidential race. He was replaced on the ticket by Kamala Harris, who lost the election to Trump.
ABC News
3 days ago
- General
- ABC News
What we know about Trump's newly ordered probe into Biden's alleged use of 'autopen'
US President Donald Trump has ordered his administration to investigate former president Joe Biden's actions, targeting his aides, including an autopen. The order could lay the groundwork for arguments by Republicans that a range of Mr Biden's actions as president were invalid. The president has claimed that Mr Biden's aides concealed his "cognitive decline" and abused presidential authority. What is happening, and why has Trump made such a big deal out of it? Let's break it down. Mr Trump has mandated two investigations through the memorandum he signed on June 4. The investigations aim to assess Mr Biden's capabilities as a president and the executive actions he has signed. The first investigation will examine whether anyone conspired to "deceive the public about Biden's mental state" and "unconstitutionally exercise" his authorities and responsibilities. The second one will probe Mr Biden's executive actions executed during his final years in office, for example, policy documents signed with an autopen and who authorised its use. This January, Mr Biden pardoned his siblings and their spouses in the final minutes of his presidency, saying his family had been "subjected to unrelenting attacks and threats, motivated solely by a desire to hurt me". He also pardoned Anthony Fauci, the former US chief medical adviser and retired General Mark Milley and members of the House committee that investigated the January 6 attack on the Capitol. "Biden's cognitive issues and apparent mental decline during his presidency were even 'worse' in private, and those closest to him 'tried to hide it' from the public," he said. Mr Trump said that the nation was governed through presidential signatures, adding that the president of the US "holds tremendous power and responsibility through his signature". "The vast majority of Biden's executive actions were signed using a mechanical signature pen, often called an autopen, as opposed to Biden's own hand," he claimed. "This was especially true of actions taken during the second half of his presidency, when his cognitive decline had apparently become even more clear to those working most closely with him." The president has questioned whether Mr Biden's aides were usurping presidential authority, as he said he believed his predecessor lacked the capacity to exercise his presidential authority. For decades, US presidents — including Trump — have used autopens, which is a device that mechanically replicates a person's signature, to sign documents and correspondence. Barack Obama was the first president to use one to sign a law in May 2011, when he signed an extension to the Patriot Act. Mr Obama was in France on official business and, with time running out before the law expired, he authorised the use of the autopen. On the same day, House Oversight Chairman James Comer of Kentucky, a Republican, announced he would expand the investigation into the alleged "cover-up of Biden's mental decline". Mr Comer reiterated his call for Mr Biden's physician, Kevin O'Connor, and former senior White House aides Annie Tomasini, Anthony Bernal, Ashley Williams and Neera Tanden to appear for transcribed interviews. "The American people deserve full transparency and the House Oversight Committee is conducting a thorough investigation to provide answers and accountability," the chairman said. He warned subpoenas would be issued this week if they refuse to schedule voluntary interviews. "I think that people will start coming in the next two weeks," Mr Comer told reporters. He added that the committee would release a report with its findings, saying "and we'll release the transcribed interviews, so it'll be very transparent." Here are the roles of Biden's five senior advisers: Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House counsel David Warrington have been ordered to handle the investigation. It's unclear how far Mr Trump will push this effort, which would face certain legal challenges. Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has not released any statements in response to Mr Trump's order. ABC/wires
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Trump Orders Investigation into Biden's Actions as President, Ratcheting Up Targeting of Predecessor
President Donald Trump on Wednesday directed his administration to investigate Joe Biden's actions as president, alleging aides masked his predecessor's 'cognitive decline' and casting doubts on the legitimacy of his use of the autopen to sign pardons and other documents. The order marked a significant escalation in Trump's targeting of political adversaries and could lay the groundwork for arguments by the Republican that a range of Biden's actions as president were invalid. Biden responded in a statement Wednesday night: 'Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency. I made the decisions about the pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations. Any suggestion that I didn't is ridiculous and false.' The Justice Department under Democratic and Republican administrations has recognized the use of an autopen to sign legislation and issue pardons for decades, Trump presented no evidence that Biden was unaware of the actions taken in his name, and the president's absolute pardon power is enshrined in the US Constitution. 'This conspiracy marks one of the most dangerous and concerning scandals in American history,' Trump wrote in a memo. 'The American public was purposefully shielded from discovering who wielded the executive power, all while Biden's signature was deployed across thousands of documents to effect radical policy shifts.' Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House counsel David Warrington to handle the investigation. It's unclear how far Trump will push this effort, which would face certain legal challenges. But it reflects his fixation on Biden, who defeated him in 2020, an election that Trump never conceded and continues to falsely claim was rigged against him. Trump frequently suggests that Biden was wrong to use an autopen, a mechanical device that replicates a person's authentic signature. Although they've been used in the White House for decades, Trump claims that Biden's aides were usurping presidential authority. Biden issued pardons for his two brothers and his sister shortly before leaving office, hoping to shield them from potential prosecution under Trump, who had promised retribution during last year's campaign. Other pardon recipients included members of a congressional committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol. Trump often suggests that his political opponents should be investigated, and he has directed the Justice Department to look into people who have angered him over the years. They include Chris Krebs, a former cybersecurity official who disputed Trump's claims of a stolen election in 2020, and Miles Taylor, a former Department of Homeland Security official who wrote an anonymous op-ed sharply critical of the president in 2018. Meanwhile, House Oversight Chairman James Comer of Kentucky, a Republican, requested transcribed interviews with five Biden aides, alleging they had participated in a 'cover-up' that amounted to 'one of the greatest scandals in our nation's history.' 'These five former senior advisors were eyewitnesses to President Biden's condition and operations within the Biden White House,' Comer said in a statement. 'They must appear before the House Oversight Committee and provide truthful answers about President Biden's cognitive state and who was calling the shots.' Interviews were requested with White House senior advisers Mike Donilon and Anita Dunn, former White House chief of staff Ron Klain, former deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed and Steve Ricchetti, a former counselor to the president. Comer reiterated his call for Biden's physician, Kevin O'Connor, and former senior White House aides Annie Tomasini, Anthony Bernal, Ashley Williams and Neera Tanden to appear before the committee. He warned subpoenas would be issued this week if they refuse to schedule voluntary interviews. 'I think that people will start coming in the next two weeks,' Comer told reporters. He added that the committee would release a report with its findings, 'and we'll release the transcribed interviews, so it'll be very transparent.' Democrats have dismissed the effort as a distraction. 'Chairman Comer had his big shot in the last Congress to impeach Joe Biden and it was, of course, a spectacular flop,' said Rep. Jamie Raskin, the Maryland Democrat who served as the ranking member on the oversight committee in the previous Congress. 'And now he's just living off of a spent dream. It's over. And he should give up the whole thing.' Republicans on the committee are eager to pursue the investigation. 'The American people didn't elect a bureaucracy to run the country,' said Rep. Brandon Gill, a freshman Republican from Texas. 'I think that the American people deserve to know the truth and they want to know the truth of what happened.' The Republican inquiry so far has focused on the final executive actions of Biden's administration, which included the issuing of new federal rules and presidential pardons that they claim may be invalid. Comer cited the book 'Original Sin' by CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios' Alex Thompson, which details concerns and debates inside the White House and Democratic Party over Biden's mental state and age. In the book, Tapper and Thompson wrote, 'Five people were running the country, and Joe Biden was at best a senior member of the board.' Biden and members of his family have vigorously denied the book's claims. 'This book is political fairy smut for the permanent, professional chattering class,' said Naomi Biden, the former president's granddaughter. Biden withdrew from the presidential race last summer after a debate against Trump in which he appeared to lose his train of thought multiple times, muttered inaudible answers and misnamed different government programs. The disastrous debate performance pushed questions about his age and mental acuity to the forefront, ultimately leading Biden to withdraw from the presidential race. He was replaced on the ticket by Kamala Harris, who lost the election to Trump.
Wall Street Journal
3 days ago
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
Trump Orders Investigation Into Biden's Actions as President
President Trump ordered an investigation into Joe Biden's actions as president, including his use of an autopen, alleging that his predecessor's aides hid evidence of what he called Biden's 'serious cognitive decline.' Trump ordered the White House counsel, in consultation with the attorney general, to review whether Biden's team conspired to deceive the public about his mental state and unlawfully exercise presidential authority. Trump alleged that 'Biden's aides abused the power of Presidential signatures through the use of an autopen to conceal Biden's cognitive decline.'
Fox News
5 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
EXCLUSIVE: Comer hails DOJ's Biden probe as House investigation heats up
EXCLUSIVE: House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., is welcoming the Trump administration's backup as he continues to probe the alleged "cover-up" of former President Joe Biden's cognitive decline. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating pardons granted by the Biden White House, specifically whether the ex-president "was competent and whether others were taking advantage of him through use of autopen or other means," according to Reuters. "The Trump DOJ is right to open a probe into the potential unauthorized use of autopen at the Biden White House for sweeping pardons and other executive actions," Comer told Fox News Digital. "Americans demand transparency and accountability about who was calling the shots at the White House." The Kentucky Republican launched a House Oversight Committee probe into the prior administration last month, requesting appearances and information from five former senior Biden aides, including his physician Kevin O'Connor. A source familiar with the matter previously told Fox News Digital that lawyers for all five former staffers were in communication with the committee, but Comer signaled that he would not rule out compelling their appearance if those talks fell through. "The House Oversight Committee is investigating the cover-up of President Biden's mental decline and will be talking soon with a large group of former administration and campaign officials, under subpoena if necessary. We welcome the DOJ's additional efforts to ensure accountability," Comer said. The DOJ declined to comment when reached by Fox News Digital. Republicans have unleashed a tidal wave of scrutiny on the previous Democratic White House as new reports – as well as old concerns previously dismissed by mainstream media – surface about Biden's mental state while in office and what lengths those closest to him took to allegedly hide it from others. It was considered all but taboo in Washington's political circles to discuss Biden's mental acuity until his disastrous debate against then-candidate Donald Trump in 2024. Since then, myriad accounts about the former president misremembering longtime allies or losing focus in meetings have flooded the media. It's brought new scrutiny on some of the unprecedentedly broad pardons he issued during his waning days in office, including for his son, Hunter Biden, despite previously saying he would not do so. Biden is also currently dealing with stage 4 prostate cancer, which he announced last month, though he told reporters in recent days he was "optimistic." Like the DOJ, Comer's probe is focused on Biden's mental decline and use of autopen for pardons and other executive actions. "The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is investigating the role of former senior Biden White House officials in possibly usurping authority from former President Joe Biden and the ramifications of a White House staff intent on hiding his rapidly worsening mental and physical faculties," Comer said in letters to the former Biden officials.
