Democrats walked out of a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing focused on former President Joe Biden’s mental fitness, calling it a partisan distraction. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) were the only Democrats present at the hearing’s start, with both leaving shortly after.
Durbin criticized Republicans for focusing on Biden’s past health instead of current oversight responsibilities, citing recent events such as the military response to protests in L.A. and the detention of Sen. Alex Padilla. He accused the GOP of ignoring pressing issues to engage in “armchair diagnosing” of Biden.
The hearing featured testimony from former Trump officials, including ex-press secretary Sean Spicer, and marks an ongoing Republican effort to scrutinize Biden, despite his exit from public life. In the House, Rep. James Comer is also probing Biden’s fitness, interviewing former White House staff.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), co-chairing the hearing, accused Biden’s aides of prioritizing politics over the nation’s leadership needs. Cornyn is facing political pressure in Texas, where Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched a primary challenge against him ahead of the 2026 Senate race.
The hearing began with Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), 91, who described Biden’s administration as “rudderless.”
