Top House Republicans are calling on the White House to release all documents and internal communications related to President Joe Biden's recent statement that appeared to criticize supporters of Donald Trump. The controversy arose when White House press officials altered the official transcript of Biden's remarks, prompting objections from federal workers responsible for documenting such statements.
According to sources within the U.S. government and an internal email obtained by The Associated Press, the decision to modify the transcript has raised concerns about potential violations of federal law. Rep. James Comer and House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik have demanded that the White House provide the records in question and make the top supervisor of the White House Stenography's Office available for a briefing.
In their statement, Comer and Stefanik emphasized the importance of preserving the accuracy of President Biden's rhetoric and expressed worries about the White House's alleged deviation from established protocols. The controversy stems from Biden's response to racist comments made at a Trump rally by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who disparaged Puerto Rico. Biden's original statement, as recorded by official White House stenographers, condemned Hinchcliffe's remarks and referred to his supporters as 'garbage.'
However, the transcript released by the White House press office contained a discrepancy, replacing 'supporters' with 'supporter's,' which aides claim alters the context of Biden's criticism. The lawmakers are seeking clarification on the decision-making process behind the transcript alteration and its implications for the administration's transparency and accountability.
