Most Senate Democrats refused to participate in a hearing about former President Joe Biden's mental fitness on Wednesday.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT) were the only senators who attended, albeit briefly, the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Durbin said the hearing was an example of Republicans' refusal to address "numerous critical challenges" the nation faces.
In his opening remarks, Durbin mentioned the deployment of federal police to Los Angeles in response to protests against the Trump administration, the assassination of a former state lawmaker in Minnesota, and the handcuffing of Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA), who also serves on the judiciary committee.
“Apparently, armchair diagnosing former President Biden is more important than the issues of grave concern, which I have mentioned,” Durbin said. He walked out of the hearing.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), 91, struggled at times to read his opening statement. Grassley used his time to wade through multiple conspiracy theories about previous criminal investigations into Trump, including that former special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into attempts to overturn the 2020 election was politically tainted. He then turned the hearing over to Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and left the committee room.
The hearing occurred at a time when questions swirl over Trump's fitness for office. Experts have said Trump has shown evidence of cognitive decline in interviews, including a lack of focus. Some White House insiders have also expressed concerns that Trump is unfit for office because of his impulsiveness and desire to exact revenge on his perceived political enemies.