Top Democrats on House committees urge Biden to resign

Democrats met behind closed doors on Sunday amidst increasing pressure on President Biden to withdraw from the race. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., facilitated a virtual meeting with ranking Democrats on House panels to address the situation.

According to sources familiar with the meeting, the majority of Democrats on the call who suggested Biden should step down also voiced support for Vice President Kamala Harris as a potential successor. Reps. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y.; Mark Takano, D-Calif.; Don Beyer, D-Va.; and Adam Smith, D-Wash., privately expressed the sentiment that Biden should exit as the Democratic nominee, with most of them advocating for Harris to take his place.

In response to reports of the meeting, Beyer issued a statement reaffirming his support for President Biden and the Biden-Harris ticket. He emphasized his commitment to assisting in defeating Donald Trump in the upcoming election and highlighted his participation in campaign events for the President.

The meeting was convened following Biden’s 22-minute interview with ABC News, which was intended to allay concerns about his ability to continue the campaign and defeat former President Donald Trump. However, the interview instead exacerbated fears among Democrats who were already troubled by Biden’s lackluster debate performance.

ABC News chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl commented on the interview, noting that while Biden appeared more composed than during the debate, the overall content did little to assuage the anxieties of Democrats worried about his prospects against Trump.

Biden, in a display of defiance, asserted that he would not withdraw from the race unless compelled by a divine intervention. He stated that only if “the Lord Almighty were to come down and say, ‘Joe, get outta the race'” would he consider stepping aside.

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