Joe Wilson says Joe Biden is 'not the person he was'

Jun. 28—Congressman Joe Wilson said Tuesday afternoon that President Joe Biden isn't the person he was.

Wilson, a Republican whose district includes Aiken County, was asked a question about Biden's alleged cognitive decline after he spoke to the Aiken Republican Club at Newberry Hall.

"I've traveled with him to several places. He's certainly not the person he was," Wilson said. "Although I would have disagreed with him when he was."

Wilson said he was optimistic that good was going to happen but added that the country was at risk. He mentioned rising inflation, the national debt and fossil fuel price increases.

"That's before you get overseas," Wilson continued. "I agree with [former] President [Donald] Trump: the greatest catastrophe ever was the abandonment of the people of Afghanistan, leaving a safe haven [for terrorists]."

Wilson said the Biden administration's policies regarding the border between the United States and Mexico represented a risk because terrorists could cross the border. He said the number of terrorists on the watch list that have crossed the border is more than 50.

He said Republicans have an opportunity for a positive message during the 2022 campaign if they call for the enforcement of current laws and fiscal restraint.

Wilson was also asked why the person who leaked the draft opinion of the Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson hadn't been identified.

"That's inconceivable to me, too," Wilson said. "We're not talking about many people in that building: the Supreme Court, you have nine members and then you have staff and law clerks. [That person] should have been identified."

Wilson added that it was sad that Democrats accused Republicans of being undemocratic when the leaker worked to undermine the court, Democrats are proposing an expansion of the Supreme Court and are calling for the abolition of the Electoral College.

"It's really hard to maintain your composure with these people because what they accuse you of is what they are doing," Wilson said.

Wilson was also asked about the allegations of corruption involving Biden's son, Hunter.

He called the reports of corruption "unbelievable."

"This is so insulting to all of us," Wilson said. "The Hunter Biden laptop that 51 intelligence agency heads would come out and immediately identify it as Russian disinformation. That's horrible because it [the contents of the laptop] is sadly true."

He said it would take Republicans winning back Congress in November to look into the allegations.

Wilson was also asked about holding House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-California, accountable for alleging that Trump's 2016 campaign had colluded with Russia.

"Yes," Wilson said. "Can you imagine the things that he knew that were not true that he made up? It's one thing to interrupt the president and apologize right away but its another to insult the American people over and over again."

Wilson interrupted former President Barack Obama during a 2009 House speech. He said Tuesday that he apologized that night.

He added it would take a Republican Congress to hold Schiff accountable.