WASHINGTON — Leading Republicans in the House have urged the White House to release all documents and internal communications related to President Joe Biden’s recent comments, which seemed to target supporters of Donald Trump.
Concerns have arisen after White House press representatives modified the official transcript of Biden’s statements, prompting criticism from federal employees responsible for accurately recording such remarks for history. Two U.S. government officials and an internal email highlighted these issues earlier this week.
Lawmakers are questioning whether the alteration of the transcript, deemed “false” and lacking in accuracy for the National Archives and Records Administration, could constitute a breach of federal law.
Rep. James Comer, who chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, along with House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, have called on the White House to provide the relevant records. They are also seeking access to the head of the White House Stenography Office for a briefing.
In a joint statement, Comer and Stefanik expressed their concerns, stating, “The White House cannot simply rewrite President Biden’s rhetoric. We are troubled by recent reports indicating the White House’s apparent political choices to shield the Biden-Harris Administration instead of adhering to traditional protocols.”
Biden sparked a debate earlier this week during his address to Latino activists. His remarks followed derogatory comments made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at a Trump rally, where Hinchcliffe referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.”
In a transcript created by the White House stenographers, Biden remarked during a video call with a Latino group that, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters — his — his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American.”
However, the transcript released by the White House press office included a significant alteration: it quoted him as saying “supporter’s” instead of “supporters.” Aides clarified that this change indicated Biden was addressing Hinchcliffe rather than the numerous Americans backing Trump for the presidency.