Staff Reports
In a twist that seems to come straight out of a political comedy, House Republicans are raising a ruckus over President Joe Biden’s transcript from a recent video call. Lead by Elise Stefanik and James Comer, these GOP lawmakers are accusing the White House of cooking the books by publishing what they dub a “false transcript.” This faux pas, they argue, could very well flirt with violating federal law, particularly the Presidential Records Act.
During this video call, Biden reportedly took a jab at Trump supporters, labeling them “garbage” — a classic case of the president being unable to keep his foot out of his mouth. However, the White House quickly sprang into damage control mode. They explained that Biden was actually referring to a comic’s comment about Puerto Rico being a “floating island of garbage” — not the good folks supporting Trump. Apparently, “Clarify, clarify” is the new mantra, but it’s unclear how effective it’s been.
Breaking: House Republicans warn White House it could have violated federal law by editing Biden's transcript https://t.co/wasXNZZxVG
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) October 30, 2024
Stefanik and Comer did what any good Republican would do when faced with an apparent blunder from the other side: they put pen to paper. They sent a spicy letter to White House counsel Edward Siskel, demanding that all records and communications tied to this scandal be preserved. It seems they’re not just interested in the transcript; they want a full accounting of how Biden’s words were manipulated after the fact. This isn’t just about politics; it’s about holding the White House accountable, one letter at a time.
The Republicans didn’t hold back in their assessment of Biden’s role in the upcoming election. They opined that he’s more of a hindrance than a help to Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign, calling him her “most powerful mouthpiece.” It’s a remarkable descent for the man who once commanded a massive following, now reduced to a figure who half the country views as increasingly erratic, courtesy of his own remarks.
In their letter, the lawmakers were clear: staffers in the White House are not allowed to “rewrite” what the president says in order to stay “on message.” It seems the act of editing Biden’s comments is a bridge too far, further illuminating the administration’s dwindling grip on reality. The last line in their letter requested a “corrected transcript” that reflects Biden’s true, unfiltered words. Given the spectacle that is Washington politics today, one can only wonder what other jaw-dropping transcripts might be hiding in the White House archives, just waiting to be disclosed.
