Lawmakers on the House Financial Services Committee engaged in a tense exchange on Tuesday after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen was questioned about President Joe Biden's recognition issues.
Biden was speechless at least twice, lost his train of thought and made multiple gaffes during his June 27 CNN debate with former President Donald Trump. Republican Congressman Mike Lawler of New York asked Treasury Secretary Yellen about her meeting with Biden, but she avoided the question, saying the meeting was “private.” (RELATED: Jon Stewart slams Biden campaign for 'blatant bullshit' about president's mental ability)
“As a minister, have you noticed any mental or cognitive decline in these meetings?” Lawler asked.
“The president has been very effective in the meetings that I've participated in, including many international meetings that lasted many hours, like my meeting with President Xi Jinping. I've met with the president and other leaders,” Yellen said, before Lawler interjected: “Are you testifying that there was no mental or cognitive decline?”
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Chaos erupts at hearing when Janet Yellen is asked about Biden's identity issues pic.twitter.com/8ttdanahRc
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Following Lawler's follow-up question, Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio questioned whether the New York Republican's questioning had been appropriate, and argued that Yellen “is not a doctor.”
“This is not a medical issue. It's a matter of her interpretation as a cabinet minister,” Lawler replied.
“I'm moving to have that word removed. She's not a doctor!” Beatty shouted.
Republican Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer of Missouri, who presided over the hearing, later restored order, asking that “no one get between the witnesses and the committee.”
“Secretary, has there been any discussion among your Cabinet members about invoking the 25th Amendment?” Lawler asked Yellen.
“No,” Yellen replied.
Since the debate, Biden has reportedly faced calls from several House Democrats to drop out of the presidential race. Axios And that New York Daily News. (Related story: 'This is it': Ex-Clinton pollster says Democrats would be 'suicidal' to try to replace Biden)
Biden's age and mental health were issues that dogged the presidential campaign ahead of Thursday night's debate.
Biden has said he has spoken multiple times with people who have died, including claiming to have spoken with former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl on February 8 about the January 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol. However, Kohl died in 2017, and three days earlier he had claimed to have spoken with former French President François Mitterrand, who died in 1996.
In September 2022, during a conference on hunger, Biden called for a memorial for Indiana Republican Rep. Jackie Walorski, who died in a car accident in August 2022 along with two staff members. Biden has suffered multiple falls during his time in office, including a fall at the Air Force Academy in June 2023. He also fell while cycling in June 2022. procedure I've flown Air Force One many times.
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