Introduction to the Controversy

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a 2026 candidate for California governor, criticized former Vice President Kamala Harris and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra on Tuesday as complicit in covering up former President Biden’s cognitive decline while in office.

Background on the Accusations

Villaraigosa said those actions, in part, led to President Trump winning the November election. Becerra, who previously served as California‘s attorney general, is also in the running for governor, and Harris is considering jumping into the race. All three are Democrats.

Villaraigosa’s Statement

“At the highest levels of our government, those in power were intentionally complicit or told outright lies in a systematic cover up to keep Joe Biden’s mental decline from the public,” Villaraigosa said in a statement. “Now, we have come to learn this cover up includes two prominent California politicians who served as California Attorney General — one who is running for Governor and another who is thinking about running for Governor. Voters deserve to know the truth, what did Kamala Harris and Xavier Becerra know, when did they know it, and most importantly, why didn’t either of them speak out?”

The Basis for the Accusations

Villaraigosa based his remarks on excerpts from “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again,” written by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson and publicly released Tuesday. The book, largely relying on anonymous sources, argues that Biden’s confidants and inner circle kept his deteriorating state from the American people, resulting in the Republican victory in the 2024 presidential election.

Details from the Book

The book portrays Biden as in decline for as long as a decade, and argues that a circle of political advisors and his family hid his condition from voters. Then-President Biden walks out to the Rose Garden at the White House in November. (Ben Curtis / Associated Press)

Response from the Accused

“Kamala Harris and Xavier Becerra took an oath of office and were entrusted to protect the American people, but instead Kamala Harris repeatedly said there was nothing wrong with Biden and Becerra turned a blind eye,” Villaraigosa said. “Original Sin” was published shortly after the former president disclosed on Sunday that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had spread to his bones. One example of Biden’s cognitive decline cited by the authors was that he confused Becerra with homeland security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, according to the New York Times.

Becerra’s Response

“I met with President Biden when needed to make important decisions and to execute with my team at HHS,” Becerra said in a statement. “It’s clear the President was getting older, but he made the mission clear: run the largest health agency in the world, expand care to millions more Americans than ever before, negotiate down the cost of prescription drugs, and pull us out of a world-wide pandemic. And we delivered.” Attempts to reach a representative for Harris were unsuccessful Tuesday afternoon.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Villaraigosa’s accusations against Harris and Becerra have ignited a significant controversy, especially given the context of the 2026 California governor’s race. The allegations of a cover-up regarding former President Biden’s cognitive decline raise serious questions about transparency and accountability in government. As the situation unfolds, it will be crucial to observe how these accusations impact the political landscape and the public’s perception of the involved parties.

FAQs

• Q: Who made the accusations against Kamala Harris and Xavier Becerra?
  A: Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa made the accusations.
• Q: What is the basis for Villaraigosa’s accusations?
  A: Villaraigosa’s remarks are based on excerpts from the book “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again.”
• Q: How have Harris and Becerra responded to the accusations?
  A: Becerra expressed well wishes for the former president and defended his dealings with him. Attempts to reach a representative for Harris were unsuccessful.
• Q: What are the implications of these accusations?
  A: The accusations could significantly impact the 2026 California governor’s race and raise questions about government transparency and accountability.