Former President Joe Biden has become the subject of heightened legal and political scrutiny as investigations into his final days in office intensify. The situation has been further complicated by recent revelations about his use of an autopen to sign pardons, including the controversial decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden. These actions, along with Biden’s public statements about his health, have spurred several ongoing inquiries into potential cover-ups and the management of his cognitive decline.
During his final weeks in office, Biden granted clemency to over 1,500 individuals, marking the largest single-day act of clemency in U.S. history. However, concerns have arisen over the use of the autopen to streamline the process, leading to questions about the legitimacy and transparency of these pardons. The Justice Department is now reviewing the list of individuals pardoned, with particular attention given to the cases involving high-profile figures such as Hunter Biden, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and General Mark Milley. The Department’s pardon attorney, Ed Martin, is conducting a thorough examination of these cases, including the controversial pardon of Hunter Biden, who was found guilty of three felony gun offenses and additional tax crimes.
The House Oversight Committee, led by Chairman James Comer, has expanded its probe to include an investigation into the possibility of a cover-up regarding Biden’s cognitive decline. This inquiry seeks to determine whether the former president’s inner-circle intentionally concealed his declining mental abilities and whether actions were taken to circumvent his influence on critical decisions. The committee has secured the voluntary testimony of four former Biden aides, including Neera Tanden, Anthony Bernal, Ashley Williams, and Annie Tomasini, who are set to provide statements on June 24, 26, 11, and 18, respectively. However, the former White House doctor, Kevin O’Connor, has declined to testify, prompting a subpoena from Comer.
Biden’s health issues have also become a focal point of the inquiries, particularly his recent diagnosis of an aggressive form of prostate cancer with metastasis to the bone. The diagnosis, shared by his team, highlights the severity of the condition, which is hormone-sensitive and allows for effective management. However, the House Oversight Committee is also examining the timeline of when Biden learned of his cancer diagnosis, citing inconsistencies in his public statements. Comer has raised questions about whether the White House intentionally obscured the extent of Biden’s health issues, suggesting a potential cover-up based on past statements where Biden had reportedly mentioned having cancer years earlier.
These developments underscore the complex and multifaceted nature of the investigations into Biden’s final days in office. The scrutiny is not only focused on the legal and administrative actions surrounding the pardons but also on potential mismanagement of his health information and the implications for his decision-making ability. As the inquiries progress, the implications for both Biden’s legacy and the broader political landscape remain significant.