WASHINGTON (AP) — Top House Republicans called on the White House to produce all documents and internal communications regarding President Joe Biden's statement earlier this week in which he appeared to take a swipe at supporters of Donald Trump.
White House press officials altered the official transcript of Biden's statement, drawing objections from the federal workers who document such remarks for posterity, according to two U.S. government officials and an internal email obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.
The lawmakers said they question whether the decision to create “a false transcript and manipulate or alter the accurate transcript” produced for the National Archives and Records Administration was a violation of federal law.
Rep. James Comer, the Republican chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik demanded the White House produce the records. They're also calling for the White House to make available for a briefing the top supervisor of the White House Stenography's Office.
“The White House cannot simply rewrite President Biden’s rhetoric,” Comer and Stefanik wrote. “...We are concerned with the latest reporting of the White House’s apparent political decision to protect the Biden-Harris Administration, instead of following longstanding and proper protocols.”
Biden created an uproar earlier this week with his remarks to Latino activists responding to racist comments at a Trump rally made by the comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who referred to the U.S. island territory of Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.”
Biden, according to a transcript prepared by the official White House stenographers, told the Latino group on a Tuesday evening video call, “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters — his — his demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American.”
The transcript released by the White House press office, however, rendered the quote with an apostrophe, reading “supporter’s” rather than “supporters,” which aides said pointed to Biden criticizing Hinchcliffe, not the millions of Americans who are supporting Trump for president.
President Joe Biden speaks to union laborers about his administration's support for unions in Philadelphia, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Coach Mike Macdonald has faith the Seattle Seahawks are going to get their ground game going.
The Seahawks have lost four of five after a 3-0 start and hope to shift the season back in their favor on Sunday at home against their NFC West rival, the Los Angeles Rams. A key to putting the season back on track is clearly the running game.
Seattle has the league’s No. 1 passing offense, led by veteran quarterback Geno Smith. But rushing-wise, the Seahawks are managing an average of just 89.3 yards on the ground per game. Only four teams in the league have lower averages.
The Seahawks fell at home 31-10 last weekend to the Buffalo Bills, which dropped the team into a first-place tie in the NFC West. Seattle rushed for a season-low 32 yards against Buffalo, with Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet rushing 12 times for 16 yards.
Walker is the team's top rusher with 315 yards on 74 carries and six touchdowns.
“We’re going to get it figured out. I mean, we’re going to be a good run team, going to have an efficient offense," Macdonald said. “I do feel like I’m a little bit of a broken record every week, but I do feel optimistic talking to the coaches and watching the tape.”
The Rams (3-4) played at home last Thursday, beating Minnesota 30-20.
The Rams' run defense is ranked 23rd in the NFL, allowing an average of 139.1 yards a game. They’ve allowed six rushing touchdowns. Overall, the Rams are allowing opponents 351.7 total yards a game.
“We’re going to get this thing rolling," Macdonald said. "I think once you complement getting the run game going with all the other mechanisms we have in our offense and our system and all of our skill guys and the way Geno’s throwing the ball, I think that could be a really potent attack.”
As for the Seahawks' defense against the run, the Bills had 164 rushing yards on 34 attempts for an average of 4.8 yards per carry. James Cook had 17 carries for 111 yards and two touchdowns.
Overall, the Seahawks rank 29th in the league against the run, with an average of 148.4 yards allowed. They'll be challenged by the Rams' Kyren Williams, who has eight rushing touchdowns.
The Rams raised eyebrows in late August when they abruptly traded Ernest Jones, their leading tackler and defensive signal-caller, to Tennessee for a mere late-round pick upgrade in 2026 after failed negotiations on a contract extension for the fourth-year pro. Jones made 44 tackles in six games with the struggling Titans before they shipped him to Seattle for Jerome Baker and a fourth-round pick — much more than Los Angeles got for a key member of its Super Bowl championship team.
Jones made a whopping 15 tackles in his Seahawks debut last week, and now he’ll face the team that gave up on him instead of allowing him to play out his rookie contract.
Coach Sean McVay’s replacements at inside linebacker are not at Jones’ level, and the coach essentially acknowledged it this week: “I think all the decisions that we make in the moment, we feel like are in the best interest. I’m not going to pretend to act like every decision is accurate, and you try to be able to learn from it and apply it moving forward.”
While there were hopes Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf could return, he was ruled out on Friday. Metcalf sprained his right knee during a victory at Atlanta on Oct. 20 and didn't play against the Bills. He did not practice this week. Metcalf ranks eighth in the NFL with 568 receiving yards on 35 catches.
Defensive end Dre’Mont Jones, who hurt his shoulder against the Bills, could return. Tackle George Fant, who returned to practice last week after a knee injury in the first week of the season, also could play. But tackle Abraham Lucas, recovering for offseason knee surgery, won't be available.
Los Angeles got an enormous boost last Thursday from the returns of top receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, who combined for 12 catches for 157 yards and a TD in Matthew Stafford’s first four-TD game of the season.
The Rams are unlikely to get a similar boost from injury returns this weekend after their extra time off. Starting offensive linemen Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson are still at least another week away, although backup lineman Joe Noteboom could be available for the first time since Week 1 to help a rushing attack ranked in the league’s bottom third despite another strong season from Williams. Los Angeles also hopes to have safety Kam Curl, who was limited in practice by a knee injury.
AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham in Los Angeles and AP freelance writer Shane Lantz in Seattle contributed to this report.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (15) celebrates after scoring a 25-yard touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) catches a pass near Minnesota Vikings cornerback Stephon Gilmore (2) during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) carries the ball as Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis (22) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs the ball against Buffalo Bills defensive end Dawuane Smoot (94) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) reacts to a call during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
