Context:

The House Oversight Committee, under the leadership of Chairman James Comer, is investigating an alleged cover-up of Joe Biden's mental decline during his presidency and his use of an autopen for executive orders. The committee has secured testimony from key former Biden aides and has subpoenaed others, including Biden's former physician, to explore the extent of Biden's cognitive issues and the timeline of his cancer diagnosis. The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the matter, which was boycotted by many Democrats, raising questions about political motivations and focus. Biden's final days in office saw the issuing of over 1,500 pardons, including a controversial pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, raising further scrutiny. The Justice Department is reviewing these pardons, particularly due to the use of an autopen, amid ongoing concerns about Biden's health and decision-making capabilities.

Dive Deeper:

• Chairman James Comer of the House Oversight Committee is leading a probe into whether Biden's inner circle colluded to hide his mental decline and bypassed him using an autopen for signing executive orders.

• Several former Biden aides, including Neera Tanden and Anthony Bernal, have been called to testify. While Tanden appeared and claimed limited interaction with Biden, Bernal refused, leading to a subpoena.

• The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing titled 'Unfit to Serve,' which focused on Biden's alleged health cover-up and constitutional implications, but faced a Democratic boycott, fueling partisan tensions.

• Biden issued more than 1,500 pardons in his last weeks as president, with concerns about his use of an autopen. Notably, he pardoned his son Hunter, sparking controversy given Hunter's legal issues.

• The Justice Department's review of Biden's pardons includes examining the use of the autopen, while the House Oversight Committee expands its investigation to include Biden's prostate cancer diagnosis and its timeline.

• The investigation into Biden's mental acuity and the alleged cover-up has included subpoenas for testimony from his former physician and other aides, with potential implications for future presidential oversight legislation.

• Republican senators criticized Democrats for their absence at the Senate Judiciary hearing, arguing it signaled an admission of guilt and emphasized the need for accountability in the face of alleged constitutional crises.