Fact check: Video shows Chuck Grassley, but he doesn't demand Joe Biden's resignation

The claim: Video shows Sen. Chuck Grassley demanding President Joe Biden's resignation

The caption of a Dec. 25 Facebook video claims it shows Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, asking for President Joe Biden's resignation over allegations related to Biden’s son, Hunter Biden.

"'IT IS FRAUD' Grassley DEMANDS Biden's 'resignation' with 'Hunter 2020 CHEAT' evidence," reads the video's caption.

The video was viewed more than 50,000 times and shared more than 1,000 times in 10 days.

Follow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks

Our rating: False

The video shows Grassley speaking at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Among other topics, Grassley raised issues related to the FBI's work, including its investigation of Hunter Biden, but he didn't demand Joe Biden's resignation.

Video shows Grassley's statement at committee hearing

The video is from an Aug. 4 hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which oversees the Justice Department, including the FBI. In the video, Grassley gives a prepared statement raising concerns about the FBI's handling of "allegedly criminal information received from numerous sources" about Hunter Biden.

The FBI's investigation of Hunter Biden is related to an alleged gun purchase and alleged tax offenses. The Washington Post has reported that federal agents think there is enough evidence to charge Hunter Biden, but it will be up to the U.S. Attorney in Delaware to make that decision.

Grassley does not mention Joe Biden by name in the video, though he briefly refers to the "Biden Justice Department." Grassley does not call for his resignation.

This style of misinformation, in which a misleading caption is paired with a legitimate video, is called "false framing," Mike Caulfield, a research scientist at the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public, previously told USA TODAY.

While the caption is obviously wrong if someone watches the entire video, “the majority of people scroll past these with the sound off," Caulfield said. “The fact it autoplays silently makes it engaging, without undermining the (inaccurate) framing.”

USA TODAY reached out to the social media user who shared the post for comment.

Check Your Fact also debunked the claim.

Fact check: Video shows GOP senator questioning FBI director, not releasing Hunter Biden documents

Our fact-check sources:

• Mike Caulfield, Oct. 18, 2022, Email exchange with USA TODAY

• Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Aug. 4, 2022, Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation

• Senate Committee on the Judiciary, accessed Jan. 4, Jurisdiction

• Chuck Grassley, Aug. 4, Grassley Statement At FBI Oversight Hearing

• The Washington Post, Oct. 6, 2022, Federal agents see chargeable tax, gun-purchase case against Hunter Biden

• USA TODAY, Oct. 14, Fact check: Video shows GOP senator questioning FBI director, not releasing Hunter Biden documents

• Check Your Fact, Jan. 3, Fact check: Did Senator Chuck Grassley Call For Biden To Resign?

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.

Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: No, Chuck Grassley doesn't demand Joe Biden resign