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Republican Representative Nathaniel Moran suggested on Tuesday that President Joe Biden should be declared "incapacitated."
During a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday, Moran spoke about former special counsel Robert Hur's report on Biden's handling of classified documents and provided several quotes from the report and how they compared to the definition of an "incapacitated individual," under the guardianship statute in Washington D.C.
"An adult whose ability to receive and evaluate information effectively or to communicate decisions is impaired to such an extent that he or she lacks the capacity to manage all or some of his or her financial resources," Moran said while reading the definition.
"Frankly, I see tons of overlap from what you set forth in your testimony, in your written report, and the definition here. The phrases are almost identical," Moran said, adding that he is concerned that given the details of the report, Biden is coming close to meeting the definition of an "incapacitated individual."
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email on Tuesday for a response to Moran's comments.
The Context
On Tuesday, Hur appeared before the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee, to deliver testimony regarding his investigation of and interview with Biden regarding Obama-era classified documents found at his Delaware home and the Penn Biden Center in Washington, D.C.
Hur previously determined that Biden "willfully retained" classified documents following his role as vice president, but did not recommend charges, stating that the president would present himself to a jury as a "sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory."
What We Know
Last month, Biden underwent a physical by Dr. Kevin C. O'Connor, who said that the president "is a healthy, active, robust 81-year-old male, who remains fit to successfully execute the duties of the presidency, to include those as Chief Executive, Head of State and Commander in Chief."
The White House previously said that Biden was not planning to undergo a cognitive test, despite questions from some following Hur's report.
Views
Despite criticism from the White House, Hur said in his opening statement on Tuesday that his description of Biden's memory and mental health was "necessary and accurate and fair."
As he continued his questioning of Hur on Tuesday, Moran said, "I'll say in conclusion, whether he does or does not meet this definition, I believe your findings raise significant concerns about his current fitness for the office of the President and certainly his current fitness going forward in the future."
What's Next
Following Moran's questioning, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan announced that the hearing would take a recess to allow House members to vote on certain legislation. The hearing resumed shortly after recess on Tuesday.
Biden's mental acuity and memory are likely to remain major talking points ahead of the 2024 election, which is shaping up to be a rematch of the 2020 race between Biden and Trump.
Update, 3/12/24, 2:20 p.m. EST: This story has been updated with further information.
Update, 3/12/24, 2:50 p.m. EST: This story has been updated with further information.
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About the writer
Matthew Impelli is a Newsweek staff writer based in New York. His focus is reporting social issues and crime. In ... Read more