WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) was caught on a hot microphone questioning his own party's strategy of avoiding the truth about the 2020 presidential election. During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, the 92-year-old chairman was heard asking his aides, "What would be wrong if they said Biden won?" The remark came as Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) was pressing four of President Donald Trump's judicial nominees on who won the 2020 election. All of them refused to directly say that Joe Biden won.
The Hot Mic Moment
The exchange, audible around the 1:17:20 mark of the hearing, caught the attention of Blumenthal and several staffers, who appeared surprised. Two Senate aides later confirmed to HuffPost that they heard Grassley's full question. The incident highlights a growing tension within the GOP over how to handle the 2020 election results.
GOP Nominees Dodge the Question
Trump's judicial nominees have routinely avoided answering whether Biden won the election, instead using phrases like "certified" or "served" as president. This evasive tactic appears to stem from fear of angering Trump and jeopardizing their nominations. Grassley's hot mic comment undermines his previous public criticisms of Democrats for asking this question, which he had labeled as "political theater."
Grassley's Shifting Stance
Earlier this month, Grassley opened a hearing by lambasting Democrats for "relentlessly attacking" nominees with election-related questions. He has also defended nominees' evasive answers by arguing that saying Biden was "certified" is accurate. However, his private question reveals a more candid acknowledgment that the refusal to say Biden won is problematic.
Why It Matters
Democrats argue that the nominees' unwillingness to acknowledge Biden's victory raises concerns about their impartiality and loyalty to Trump rather than the Constitution. Grassley's remark underscores the core issue: the refusal to state a basic fact is disqualifying for a judge.
Response from Grassley's Office
When asked for comment, Grassley spokeswoman Clare Slattery reiterated that it is accurate for nominees to say Biden was certified. "Whoever is certified as receiving the majority vote from the electoral college is the winner of the election," she said. "There's no other way to 'win the election.' As we all know, Biden received the majority of electoral college votes in 2020 and those results were certified by Congress."
