Bennett Oghifo
United States President Joe Biden yesterday temporarily transferred powers to his Vice President Kamala Haris to enable him undergo routine colonoscopy, a procedure that requires anesthesia, at the Walter Reed Medical Center in Maryland.
This transfer of powers and duties makes Kamala Harris the first female in the history of the United States to be President, though briefly, since the President resumed his powers and duties shortly after the procedure yesterday, according to a tweet by White House Press Secretary, Ms. Jen Psaki stating that the procedure was complete and that President Biden had “resumed his duties.”
Prior to the procedure, President Biden yesterday communicated to Honourable Patrick Leahy, President Pro Tempore, United States Senate, his desire to transfer powers and responsibilities of the office of the United States President to Kalama Haris as required by the Constitution, because he would be sedated.
The President’s letter reads: “Today I will undergo routine medical procedure requiring sedation. In view of present circumstances, I have determined to transfer temporarily the powers and duties of the office of the President of the United States to the Vice President during the brief period of the procedure and recovery.
“In accordance of Section 3 of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, this letter will constitute my written declaration that I am presently unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office of the President of the United States. Pursuant to Section 3, the Vice President shall discharge those powers and duties as Acting President until I transmit to you a written declaration that I am able to resume the discharge of those powers and duties.”
Also yesterday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that the President’s procedure was successful and that he had resumed his powers and duties.
Transfer of power from the U.S President to a Vice President had taken place before now, according to Paski. “As was the case when President George W Bush had the same procedure in 2002 and 2007, and following the process set out in the constitution, President Biden will transfer power to the vice president for the brief period of time he is under anesthesia.”
