U.S. President Joe Biden faced further questions about his re-election campaign from Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday.
Late Wednesday, Sen. Peter Welch called on Biden to withdraw from the election, becoming the first Democratic senator to do so.
Biden is seeking reelection in November and is likely to face former Republican President Donald Trump.
The challenges come as Biden, 81, hosts NATO leaders in Washington.
What did Democrats say about Biden’s campaign?
In an opinion piece, The Washington PostWelch noted that Biden spoke huskily and appeared to lose his train of thought at times during the debate with Trump.
“We cannot forget President Biden’s disastrous debate performance,” Welch said. “In the interest of our nation, I urge President Biden to withdraw from the race.”
Also on Wednesday, two House Democrats, Pat Ryan and Earl Blumenauer, publicly called on Biden to withdraw his candidacy.
Meanwhile, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refrained from urging Biden to continue running, saying “it’s the president’s decision whether or not to run.”
Asked if she wanted Biden to continue campaigning, Pelosi told MSBNC: “I want him to do whatever he sets his mind to.”
“Time is running out and we’re all urging him to make a decision,” Pelosi said.
Hollywood star George Clooney, a major Democratic fundraiser, also said Wednesday that Biden should drop out of the race. The New York Times Opinion article.
Biden has vowed to continue campaigning, described his debate performance as a “bad episode” and denied suggestions he is suffering from cognitive decline.
Biden is expected to hold a news conference with reporters on Thursday, giving the public and Democrats an opportunity to gauge his mental state.
House committee subpoenas Biden aides
The Republican-led House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed three senior White House aides for questioning about Biden’s health and mental state.
The committee has issued subpoenas to Anthony Bernal, an aide to Biden’s wife, Jill, his deputy chief of staff, Annie Tommasini, and senior adviser Ashley Williams.
Republican Rep. James Comer said “key White House staff must appear before this committee and provide the transparency and accountability that the American people deserve,” and said Biden was “unfit” for the office of president.
“According to one former Biden aide, the three employees — Annie Tommasini, Anthony Bernal and Ashley Williams — created a ‘protective bubble’ around President Biden,” the committee alleged.
White House spokesman Ian Sams dismissed the move as a “baseless political ploy” and accused Comer of using the subpoena as an “attention-grabbing” move.
sdi/wd (AP, AFP, Reuters)
