House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has announced that he will lead an investigation into whether Democrats acted improperly in considering the use of the 25th Amendment to remove President Joe Biden from office. The move comes amid growing Republican concerns about Biden's fitness to serve and recent calls from within their ranks to invoke the amendment.
The 25th Amendment, ratified in 1967, outlines the procedures for replacing a president in the event of death, removal, resignation, or incapacitation. While it has never been used to forcibly remove a sitting president, the amendment includes provisions that allow the vice president, along with a majority of the Cabinet, to declare the president unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office.
Speaker Mike Johnson and Hakeem Jeffries just announced a task force to investigate J13 when what Johnson should be doing is legally defunding the Biden regime pic.twitter.com/InsYWnXMCp
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) July 29, 2024
The investigation spearheaded by Johnson aims to determine if Democratic leaders pressured Biden into stepping down from his reelection campaign under the threat of invoking the 25th Amendment. Johnson stated that the Democrats' actions could be part of a broader cover-up regarding Biden's capacity to govern. “Our adversaries see the weakness in this White House, as we all do. I take no pleasure in saying that. I think this is a very dangerous situation,” Johnson said.
This controversy has escalated after Biden announced he would not seek reelection in the upcoming 2024 election, a decision that has led to significant political maneuvering within both parties. Former President Donald Trump has publicly claimed that Democratic leaders threatened Biden with the 25th Amendment if he did not withdraw from the race. Although these claims are not substantiated, they have fueled Republican arguments about Biden's alleged incapacity.
Republican Members of Congress, including Rep. Dan Crenshaw and Speaker Mike Johnson raise the American flag at Union Station after it was torn down and burned by anti-Israel protesters.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) July 25, 2024
Republican Senator JD Vance has also vocalized that Democrats should act on their concerns about Biden's fitness by utilizing the 25th Amendment, rather than simply allowing him to step down from the campaign. This sentiment is echoed by other GOP leaders who argue that such a move would be more transparent and legally appropriate .
The 25th Amendment has been a topic of considerable debate in recent years. During the final days of Trump's presidency, there were discussions among his Cabinet members about invoking the amendment following the January 6 Capitol riots. However, these discussions did not result in action, as then-Vice President Mike Pence declined to support such measures.
As Johnson and the Republicans push forward with their investigation, the political landscape remains highly charged. Democrats, on the other hand, are likely to resist any efforts that suggest Biden is unfit to serve, maintaining their stance that the president is fully capable of performing his duties until the end of his term. This situation sets the stage for a contentious battle in Congress, with significant implications for the upcoming presidential election.
The ongoing discourse about the 25th Amendment underscores the deep political divisions and the high stakes of the 2024 election. As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen how these allegations and discussions will influence voters and the broader political climate.
