Former President Joe Biden experienced such “cognitive decline” while in office that it remains a serious question as to whether he was aware of the substance of the various pardons and commutations signed in his name via autopen, the GOP-controlled House Oversight Committee asserted in a letter it sent to Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging her to consider whether that clemency might be invalid and to take action for potential prosecution against some of Biden’s aides.

The committee “deems void President Biden’s executive actions that were signed using the Autopen, and the committee determines that action by the Department of Justice is warranted to address the legal consequences of that determination,” it wrote to Bondi released Tuesday morning.

  • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    Maybe…

    Just maybe…

    Biden should have held trump and co accountable for all the illegal shit they did his first term, instead of ignoring it to avoid setting the precedent a president could ever be accountable for breaking the law in office?

    Biden chose not to do that. Despite all the harm it would cause the country and all of us

    Instead he did some last minute pardons for his own family and left 99.999999% of Americans in the wind.

    Now trump is going to set the precedent of holding past presidents accountable, and he’s going to do a bad job of it, and Biden and his family will have to pay a price

    If Biden would have done what’s best for America, he never would have had to do those bullshit pardons to begin with

    All my thoughts and prayers…

    • Jumbie@lemmy.zip
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      1 day ago

      I think these are two separate conversations.

      You’re not wrong. Neither am I.

      • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        Right we agree:

        Biden knew the Nazis would eventually come for his family.

        You’re saying Biden only cared about his immediate family

        I was just clarifying that if he cared about Americans and looked out for all of us, he’d have protected his family too.

        The difference is your comment seems to be sympathetic for the person who refused to the job he said he would, and in the process prevented someone who would have done the job from having the chance

        At a surface level you’re feeling sympathy for the person who didn’t give a single fuck about any of us and left us to suffer.

        But you were wrong about something:

        This is exactly why he pardoned them (for the bullshit charges) from the GQP before leaving office.

        His son was a crackhead running around with guns.

        He admitted in his book to multiple serious crimes.

        Like, if his dad wasn’t Joe Biden, he’d have already been in jail. Biden basically admitted that and promised he wouldn’t pardon him. Because he was guilty.

        Then claimed that the only reason he was charged, was the same reason he’s never had to face legal consequences…

        And you’re defending a level of corruption that should be unacceptable, because the person Biden refused to hold accountable is more corrupt?

        Do you even understand that if both sides are corrupt, maga will win because their voters don’t care?

        You’re putting yourself in the position that you have to argue corruption is ok (you literally just did in the initial comment) because trump is worse.

        The way we win is being the non corrupt option. And luckily the DNC realized that, and broke away from the neoliberal faction that’s been the problem in the Dem party.

        Maybe some day youll realize it too.

        Quick edit:

        And if you’re gonna say “drug users should be allowed to have guns”…

        Biden had the power to change shit, but he didn’t want to.

        He just wanted his immediate family to not go to jail.

        Again, he could have fixed it for everyone, but he didn’t give a fuck about us, just his immediate circle.

        So I don’t have any sympathy, if he had tried to help us all, it would be different and a lot harder for trump to undo now

          • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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            1 day ago

            I hope you have a better day tomorrow

            What?

            You think someone upset that Joe Biden allowed trump to be one president again, is just “having a bad day” and “it might get better tomorrow”?

            What do you think will change between today and tomorrow?

            We wasted four years on Biden, now we have to suffer 3 more years of trump.

            Absolutely nothing I’m upset about will be better tomorrow.

            Which should be very obvious, yet it still apparently went over your head. You still don’t understand anything that’s happening…

              • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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                1 day ago

                Oh ok…

                No wonder you don’t know any of this stuff, and apparently me trying to help is going to be futile.

                Ignorance is bliss and all. So you probably will have a good day tomorrow.

                You don’t understand how fucked shit is, so you’re just bouncing around blissfully unaware and willingly ignorant.

                I’m honestly jealous, I’d love to not understand how badly we’re fucked. So I’ll just leave you to it.

        • Serinus@lemmy.world
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          Yeah, guilty people go free when the prosecution and trial isn’t fair.

          That IS how that’s supposed to work.

          • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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            1 day ago

            I’ve held my nose and voted D every election since I was eligible to vote.

            Except 08 when I was excited to vote for Obama.

            If you think progressives dont hold their nose and vote for the lesser evil, then I think you’ve been just listening to what billionaire owned media corporations are telling you…

            And, in case you haven’t noticed, the wealthy will do/say anything to stop progressives.

            I clouding spreading the propaganda you seem to believe.

            • edible_funk@lemmy.world
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              1 day ago

              Calm the fuck down, we’re on the same side in our personal politics. But seriously if you actually think our system of government is valid and should be restored, you can’t fucking blame the Dems for playing by the rules to uphold the fucking system while fuckboi Republicans shit all over the board and strut around like they won. So you need to figure out what you believe and then understand the actual processes involved. Because 98 percent of the blame for everything happening right now is squarely on the voters who either want this or were too privileged to take a basic fuckin interest in civics. Joe fucked up with Comey and Mueller and could have been more vocally aggressive. Legally there was fuckall else he could actually do because, say it with me, fuckass republican obstruction.

              • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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                1 day ago

                you can’t fucking blame the Dems for playing by the rules to uphold the fucking system while fuckboi Republicans shit all over the board and strut around like they won.

                This is the problem…

                You keep acting like Biden did everything he could but failed.

                I’m saying he made a half-assed attempt to “look into” it, with no plans of following through.

                Which has been the neoliberal playbook for decades.

                Why are you still trusting neoliberals and the billionaires who pay them to obstruct progress like this?

                I’m not trying to change your mind about anything. Im trying to understand what logic someone followed to have your views.

    • edible_funk@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      Biden, short of behaving like Trump (which the supreme court certainly would have found issue with) had no real power at any point to do any of that due to Republicans in Congress. He fucked up big with Comey and Mueller, we all should have known Republicans have no real integrity, but really there wasn’t anything he could have done short of breaking the system dictator style like Trump is. Biden was behaving according to rules norms and laws. Republicans are unencumbered by such things. Based on your comment you do not have a great idea of how our federal government is actually supposed to function, and mostly did function before the tea party and maga.

      Put the blame where it belongs, on every Republican voter and every both sides abstainer. The American people failed an open book test because they couldn’t be fucked to have the most basic understanding of their own government. We’re getting what we deserve.

      • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        Put the blame where it belongs, on every Republican voter and every both sides abstainer.

        You…

        You want to blame people who didn’t vote in 2024…

        For Biden not holding trump accountable 2021-2024?

        That’s…

        That’s not how cause and effect works, that’s not even how linear time works…

        People weren’t motivated to vote in 2024, because after holding their noses for Biden, he didn’t do what he said he would.

        • edible_funk@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

          Imagine thinking Biden had any actual ability to do any of that… Take a fucking civics course my bro.

          • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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            1 day ago

            You don’t think Biden could direct the DOJ to investigate the last presidents corruption?

            Why?

            Why would you think that?

            Biden could have ordered the DOJ to investigate a limited acope, and if the DOJ refused, he could have replaced the head of the DOJ.

            Who do you think is in charge of the DOJ if not the president?

            Like, you realize that right now, you’re arguing that Biden broke the law by saying they should investigate trump. He did say that, he just never followed thru.

            Quick edit:

            Like, the head of the DOJ is a political appointee who serves at the pleasure of the president…

            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Attorney_General

            How does the president not control the DOJ?

            This learned helplessness is ridiculous

            • edible_funk@lemmy.world
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              Jesus Christ grant others reading comprehension. No I’m not, and yes he did direct an investigation. And the Republicans in Congress and within the doj fucking stonewalled. This was all over the news the whole fuckin time man, did you memory hole it? Biden did everything that, by the book, he could do while maintaining norms and traditions and decorum. He could have violated the office like Trump to wield more authority, but how the fuck you think the Republican Congress and media would have taken that? They’d have impeached his ass and you’re not a serious person if you think otherwise. You do not seem to have a full grasp of how any of this works in spite of apparently watching it first hand, and you still buy Republican propaganda blaming Biden. Be better bro.

              • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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                1 day ago

                He did do that. And the Republicans in Congress and within in the doj fucking stonewalled. This was all over the news the whole fuckin time man, did you memory hole it?

                Oh…

                The Billionaires told their employees on mainstream news to say that it wasn’t Biden’s fault?

                I do remember that… But it was bullshit.

                Just like when they kept saying Biden was perfectly healthy.

                The problem is:

                You insist that billionaires would never lie to us.

                Which is a wild take in 2025…

                Edit:

                That’s not even getting into how fast you went from:

                Imagine thinking Biden had any actual ability to do any of that

                To:

                yes he did direct an investigation.

                Which fucking is it?

                You said he can’t do it, then said he did it…

                • edible_funk@lemmy.world
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                  1 day ago

                  You’re having like 9 different conversations here and it’s hurting any point you’re trying to make. You keep inserting wild statements into my mouth, and you clearly don’t understand how the federal government is supposed to and used to function. And while I appreciate any and all billionaire hate-boners, you’re too busy jerking it to have a reasonable conversation. Take a few civics courses and stop parroting Republican/Russian propaganda.

                  • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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                    1 day ago

                    You keep inserting wild statements into my mouth,

                    I literally quoted you…

                    You went from:

                    Imagine thinking Biden had any actual ability to do any of that

                    To:

                    yes he did direct an investigation.

                    In one reply…

                    Which is it?

                    1. Biden couldn’t do anything to direct DOJ, so he committed a crime directing the DOJ

                    2. Biden didn’t direct the DOJ, because he wasn’t able to despite promising to use the DOJ to go after trump to get elected.

                    Neither are correct, but those are the two options you’ve backed yourself in logically

    • fonix232@fedia.io
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      The issue was the amount of illegal shit they did, that resulted in the various proceedings. The discovery for all the crimes went on too long, and as you’ve seen from the lawsuits that were thrown out… it’s not wise to start one without rock solid evidence and a fully built case.

      On the other hand the moment SCOTUS ruled that any official act of POTUS is fully legal, regardless of technical legality, he should’ve had Trump shot. Period.

      • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        The issue was the amount of illegal shit they did, that resulted in the various proceedings. The discovery for all the crimes went on too long, and as you’ve seen from the lawsuits that were thrown out… it’s not wise to start one without rock solid evidence and a fully built case.

        So pick one thing and focus on that…

        For fucks sake this is basically life advice given to children:

        Student:

        I have too much homework, I’ll never accomplish it all!

        Teacher/parent:

        Start with one assignment, and then move on to the next. That way you’ll get some finished. Don’t try to do every assignment at the same time or you might not get any done.

        But if you’re saying Biden and his admin we’re too stupid to know that, I actually disagree.

        I think they were doing the classic neoliberal move where they say they’re “investigating” but then they just run down the clock and say “aww shucks, we ran out of time”.

        Because that’s what he also did with: cannabis decriminalization, better healthcare, more social programs, justice reform, LGBTQ rights…

        Basically, fucking everything.

        But you’re saying, that you believe Biden and his people, were just genuinely too stupid to focus on specific crimes and they couldn’t build a case against trump for anything?

        • fonix232@fedia.io
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          A criminal investigation is a bit more complex topic than homework. You can’t pick and choose the things, you need to conduct a thorough investigation uncovering every potentially relevant fact and building a case based on that. Miss evidence, miss a connection, and your case is thrown out during cross-examination. How do you think it sounds to a judge that oops, you didn’t do this and that and that, investigating connected crimes etc., because you “wanted a quick conviction”?

          Trump’s crimes were incredibly inter-connected, and the court case wasn’t to convince voters but to convince a judge.

          Voters are convinced by even simple rumours, you don’t even need an actual criminal investigation, just lie and spread the rumour that one is happening, and bam, you got a bunch of people now dead-set against whomever these made up investigations are happening of. That’s how MAGA operates, that’s how the whole Hunter Biden thing went on and frenzied half your country. Wild rumours until a fraction of what they were shouting materialised, and literally all they’ve got to show for it is his dick pics on the Senate and House floor… But the average MAGA was convinced and that was enough.

          Do you think the reverse would be enough? Just dirty Trump until MAGA turns away? Frivolous lawsuits based on partial investigations? That would just further convince MAGA that it’s a baseless, political witch-hunt.

          • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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            23 hours ago

            You can’t pick and choose the things,

            That is definitely not true in America where:

            Our riminal justice system is overwhelmingly a system of pleas. Statistics consistently show that about 95-98% of federal convictions and 94-95% of state convictions result from guilty pleas, often through plea bargains. The Supreme Court acknowledged this reality in Missouri v. Frye, stating that our system “is for the most part a system of pleas, not a system of trials.”

            https://govfacts.org/explainer/plea-bargain-vs-trial-navigating-the-crossroads-of-justice/

            People almost exclusively are having their crimes “picked and chosen”.

            That’s the entire basis of modern justice system.

            You pull over a speeder and find a joint, the cop can just let it go. The prosecutor could decide to drop it. Multiple people at every step “pick and choose” before and after charges are filed…

    • someguy3@lemmy.world
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      What are you on about? Biden has no personal authority to “hold Trump accountable”. He appoints the attorney general and that’s where Biden’s authority ends. Then it’s on the DOJ to investigate. You know, separation of powers.

      I know it’s not interesting to look into how things actually work, but at this point of you being edgy you’re just spreading misinformation.

      That’s not even touching on the precedent parts, which is not how the legal system works at all. Like at all.

    • Serinus@lemmy.world
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      We all chose not to do that. Biden’s idea was that it’s ultimately up to the people to decide the direction of the country.

      Anything he does to keep a political opponent out of office is damaging. Relying on the American people to do it is only foolish with the benefit of hindsight.