House Republicans accuse White House of releasing 'false transcript' of Biden's 'garbage' remarks

Stefanik, Comer warn the White House it may be in violation of federal law.

EXCLUSIVE: House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik and House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer are accusing the White House of releasing a false transcript of President Biden’s remarks in which he apparently referred to supporters of former President Donald Trump as "garbage," warning that the revision could violate the Presidential Records Act.

Fox News Digital obtained a letter Stefanik, R-N.Y., and Comer, R-Ky., sent to White House counsel Edward Siskel on Wednesday afternoon in which they demand records relating to the remarks and the transcript are preserved.

"In less than one week, the American people will determine the winner of the 2024 presidential election. They will choose between two candidates: President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. President Biden — marred by unpopular policies, scandal, and apparent cognitive deterioration — has chosen not to pursue a second term in office," they wrote.

"President Biden, however, has continued to play a prominent role in Vice President Harris’s campaign and, indeed, is the most powerful mouthpiece for the Biden-Harris Administration’s policies and views that Ms. Harris presumably seeks to continue under a hypothetical Harris-Walz Administration."

Stefanik and Comer pointed to Biden’s remarks Tuesday night, saying "Americans were rightfully insulted, then, when President Biden, seeking to boost Ms. Harris’ presidential campaign, referred to an enormous swath of the country as "floating…garbage."

"President Biden’s vindictive words were unsurprising, given his previous statements regarding people who choose not to vote for his preferred candidate," they wrote. "Unsurprising too were the White House’s actions after he said them."

Stefanik and Comer said the White House, "instead of apologizing or clarifying President Biden’s words," sought to "change them (despite them being recorded on video) by releasing a false transcript of his remarks."

"The move is not only craven, but it also appears to be in violation of federal law, including the Presidential Records Act of 1978," they wrote. "White House staff cannot rewrite the words of the President of the United States to be more politically on message."

The letter comes after President Biden spoke during a Zoom call with Voto Latino, one of the largest Latino voter and civic outreach organizations in the U.S., on Tuesday. Biden was asked about a comment made Sunday during a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden in which comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico a "floating island of garbage."

Biden replied: "The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters."

The White House has since denied that Biden called Trump supporters "garbage" and claimed the comment was taken out of context.