US Attorney General Merrick Garland defended President Joe Biden's mental fitness, telling legislators in a committee of the House of Representatives that he skillfully deals with both foreign and domestic political issues, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
"The president has no disabilities,", Garland told the budget subcommittee. "I have seen him skillfully lead meetings with staff and cabinet members on issues of foreign policy as well as military strategy and policy," he continued, noting that Biden has acted decisively in making decisions about the country's defense. "I have complete confidence in the president,", Garland added.
The attorney general for the first time publicly shared his opinion on the mental fitness of the 81-year-old Biden, who is the oldest president in US history, notes Reuters.
Polls show Biden's age is a major issue for voters amid his bid to win a second term in the Nov. 5 presidential election against his 77-year-old Republican rival, Donald Trump.
The issue of mental fitness has become an important issue in this year's election campaign, as Biden and Trump are the two oldest men to be elected president.
According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll from September, 77% of respondents agreed with the statement that Biden is too old to work in government, while 56% of respondents thought the same about Trump.
In a February report by US Justice Department special counsel Robert Hurr, there was information that the president was suffering from memory loss, but the White House strongly disputed the report, Reuters recalls.
Garland declined to comment on Hurr's conclusions about Biden's memory. However, he referred to his own observations based on his experience as a member of the Cabinet and the National Security Council.