Following Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report, which included stunning revelations of the deterioration of President Joe Biden’s mental state, Republican officials are calling to invoke the 25th Amendment. They state that “if ever there were a time to do so, now would be it,” and insist that if the president “is not competent to stand trial, then he is certainly not competent to lead the free world.”
While highlighting evidence of America’s oldest ever president “willfully” mishandling classified documents, Special Counsel Hur’s report details Biden’s significant cognitive decline — perhaps more politically damning than his handling of classified materials.
The report, released Thursday, concludes that prosecution is unlikely due to the challenges of proving willful intent beyond a reasonable doubt and Biden’s sympathetic public image.
In response, Republican members are urging the cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment — which addresses presidential succession and disability procedures — or face impeachment, while questioning how Democrats in “good conscience” can tell Americans he is mentally competent enough to continue being Commander-in-Chief.
“For the safety of our nation, Joe Biden must resign,” declared Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-IL). “He could not remember basic facts about his life. He is not competent to remain as Commander-in-Chief & every day that he remains, he puts America at risk.”
“If he won’t resign, the Cabinet must invoke the 25th Amendment,” she added.
For the safety of our nation, Joe Biden must resign. He could not remember basic facts about his life. He is not competent to remain as Commander-in-Chief & every day that he remains, he puts America at risk. If he won't resign, the Cabinet must invoke the 25th Amendment. pic.twitter.com/ZN7bJM5uZk
— Rep. Mary Miller (@RepMaryMiller) February 8, 2024
“If ever there were a time to invoke the 25th Amendment, wouldn’t that time be now?” asked Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT).
“The Special Counsel’s report exposing that Joe Biden’s mental decline is so severe that he can not stand trial means he is unfit for office,” wrote Rep. Marjory Tayloer Greene (R-GA).
“We must demand either the 25th amendment be invoked or impeachment, “ she added.
In a joint statement with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN), and House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY), House speaker Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) called the report’s findings “deeply disturbing,” noting that a “man too incapable of being held accountable for mishandling classified information is certainly unfit for the Oval Office.”
The description offered by Special Counsel Hur regarding President Biden’s condition will be seen, around the world, as unnerving.
I have known President Biden for decades, traveled the world with him and consider him a friend.
The Special Counsel’s assessment of President…
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) February 8, 2024
Hur’s assessment of Biden’s “significantly limited” memory played a part in his decision not to prosecute.
“We have also considered that, at trial, Mr. Biden would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory,” the report states. “Based on our direct interactions with and observations of him, he is someone for whom many jurors will want to identify reasonable doubt.”
“It would be difficult to convince a jury that they should convict him — by then a former president well into his eighties — of a serious felony that requires a mental state of willfulness.”
Hur’s report is riddled with examples and assessments that Biden’s mental faculties and memory have deteriorated, saying, “Mr. Biden’s memory also appeared to have significant limitations.”
Shockingly, the report says, he was unable to remember, “even within several years,” when his son Beau passed away, as well as when he was vice president.
The matter comes as concerns about the 81-year-old president’s age and mental fitness in an election year have intensified, with questions about his cognitive acuity already appearing in headlines after he had confused a world leader with a dead predecessor twice in the previous week.
A Yahoo News/YouGov poll released in May revealed that a whopping 82 percent of Americans possess concerns about Biden’s health and mental acuity.