WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) delivered a scathing condemnation of the Democratic Party and its leadership, accusing them of a four-year-long campaign of deception regarding President Joe Biden’s cognitive fitness. Armed with documented quotes from Democratic officials and the devastating conclusions of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Hawley used a Senate hearing to demand immediate transparency, effectively calling the Democrats’ bluff on the legality of the Biden administration’s actions.
The confrontation centered on a simple, yet explosive contradiction: While top Democrats consistently vouched for Biden’s “sharp,” “focused,” and “formidable” demeanor, the President’s own Justice Department concluded he was too mentally impaired to stand trial for mishandling classified documents.
Hawley wasted no time, using the absent seats of his Democratic colleagues as a visual symbol of their evasion. “All you have to do is look over at this side of the dais to see that the stone wall continues. From the party that lied to this nation for four years.”
The core of Hawley’s accusation hinged on Special Counsel Robert Hur’s DOJ report, which investigated Biden’s illegal retention of classified documents—documents, as Hawley noted, illegally kept “in his garage, in his freezer. I mean, Lord knows where.”
The report concluded that no charges were warranted largely because Biden was deemed to be a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory” who could not form the “requisite mental state to stand trial.” In other words, the President lacked the mental ability to be held accountable for a federal crime.
Hawley then slammed the Democrats’ public response, which involved outright denial and dismissal of the DOJ’s finding:
Vice President Kamala Harris: Claimed, “The way that the Hur report characterized the president [is] so wrong. The president’s demeanor is totally fine.”
“Where are they now?” Hawley demanded of the empty seats. “They don’t want to answer for any of those quotes now. They lied to us for four years, and we know they lied. They know they lied. It’s why they’re not here. They don’t want to answer a single question.”
Hawley condemned the political calculus: “The bill of goods they sold this country… they walked this country right into one of the greatest constitutional crises of our history… and now they are afraid to even show up to admit it.”
He characterized the Democrats’ continued support of Biden as elder abuse, suggesting the party was prioritizing political power over the well-being of the former President. “This is embarrassing. But worse than that,
Hawley immediately pivoted to a crucial legal and ethical component that could prove the deception: the use of the Autopen to sign official documents.
The discussion centered on the opinions of the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), which dictates that the presidential Autopen can only be used when the President “specifically directs it and it is under his direct authority.”
“So based on the facts we know,” Hawley challenged the witnesses, “did that happen in this case with all of the pardons and clemencies and other giveaways that Joe Biden signed?”
A witness confirmed that if the Biden White House followed traditional practice, “there should be records to indicate either through a covering memorandum or briefing books where the President would have signed his signature authorizing his decision.”
Crucially, the witness stated that none of these records have been produced.
Hawley hammered the point: “This is a binary question… We can find out. So I right now today,
Hawley asserted that the paper trail—the records of the staff secretary’s office authorizing the use of the Autopen for acts such as pardoning “murderers, drug dealers, [and] child rapists”—would prove whether Biden was truly mentally capable of making those decisions, or if staff members were bypassing his cognitive limitations and abusing the power of the office.
“If what you did is legal, and if you’re really not embarrassed about it and you think it was totally constitutional, release the paper flow. Show us the documents where the President authorized the use of the pen for every single pardon and clemency and stay application.
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Hawley’s final statement was a forceful summary of his purpose: “Josh Hawley did not show up to score political points. He showed up to defend the truth and demand honesty from those in power. He stood in that chamber like a wall of accountability, refusing to let years of deception, excuses, and political games be brushed aside.”
The hearing sent an unmistakable message: In an era where trust in government is fragile, leaders who lie, hide, and manipulate the truth will be held to account. The fight for honesty is not finished, but after Hawley’s unwavering resolve, it is stronger than ever.
Judge Issues Warning as Trump Assassination Suspect Prepares to Represent Himself.Ryan Wesley Routh, the Florida man accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump, will represent himself in his upcoming federal trial in Fort Pierce, Florida. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon granted his request in July, though court-appointed attorneys will remain as standby counsel to assist if necessary. Cannon underscored the need for heightened courtroom security, cautioning Routh that any sudden or threatening movements would prompt immediate action from marshals.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday and is expected to last three days. Three panels of 60 potential jurors will be questioned to seat 12 jurors and four alternates. Opening statements are set for September 11, with the trial projected to last up to four weeks, though it could conclude sooner depending on proceedings.
The charges arise from a September 15, 2024 incident at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. Prosecutors allege that Routh planned to shoot Trump, reportedly hiding with a rifle in nearby shrubbery before being confronted by a Secret Service agent. An exchange of gunfire ensued, after which Routh fled and was later apprehended. He faces multiple federal charges, including attempted assassination and firearms violations, as well as state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.
Originally from North Carolina, Routh has a documented history of erratic behavior and prior legal troubles. In 2002, he was arrested for possessing an explosive device labeled a “weapon of mass destruction” and has previously attempted to recruit foreign fighters for overseas conflicts. Despite these incidents, he avoided prison time in earlier cases.
In the lead-up to the trial, Routh has filed a series of unusual motions. Among them, he offered to accept new evidence if permitted to subpoena Trump, whom he insulted in inflammatory language, and even proposed a golf match with the former president to determine his own fate.
Judge Cannon has yet to rule on Routh’s unconventional requests but has affirmed that he may proceed as his own attorney under strict supervision. Standby counsel will be present throughout the trial to provide guidance if needed.
The case is expected to draw intense national attention, given both the nature of the alleged crime and the unprecedented decision of the defendant to represent himself.