In a significant personal development for the Biden family, Ashley Biden, the daughter of former President Joe Biden, has officially filed for divorce from her husband of 13 years, Dr. Howard Krein.
The 44-year-old former first daughter submitted the legal paperwork to Philadelphia’s Court of Common Pleas this past Monday. On the same day, she signaled a shift in her personal life via social media, posting a photo set to the Beyoncé song “Freedom” along with a quote regarding the necessity of “new beginnings” and the establishment of “new boundaries.” The couple, who were introduced by Ashley’s late brother Beau Biden, married in Greenville, Delaware, in 2012. Joe Biden was known to be deeply involved in the wedding preparations, even assisting with reception logistics during his time as Vice President. While the Biden family navigates these private changes, Joe Biden is simultaneously facing an intensifying political and legal challenge led by House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer. The Kentucky Republican is spearheading an investigation into whether the former president’s mental decline impacted the legality of his executive actions. Comer has specifically raised concerns regarding the frequent use of an autopen to sign official documents, including pardons and executive orders. He argues that if the president was unaware of what was being signed in his name, the actions could be deemed illegal, potentially leading to criminal charges against staff members who facilitated the process. The investigation aims to utilize evidence of Biden’s cognitive state to potentially overturn various clemency acts and executive mandates. Comer noted that Biden’s widely criticized debate performance in June 2024 served as a catalyst for these concerns, eventually leading to his withdrawal from the presidential race and endorsement of Kamala Harris. Legal scholar Alan Dershowitz has noted that such challenges would likely end up in court, as the U.S. Constitution explicitly mandates that a president must personally sign bills. Dershowitz emphasized that the use of an autopen raises significant questions about whether a pardon or bill actually received the president’s conscious approval. These developments follow a February 2025 report from Special Counsel Robert Hur, which characterized Joe Biden as an “elderly man with a poor memory.” Hur’s findings suggested that Biden struggled to recall key dates, such as his tenure as vice president or the passing of his son Beau. Despite these claims, Biden has defended his administrative legacy, telling The New York Times that he was responsible for every decision regarding pardons. However, his aides have reportedly confirmed that he did not individually approve every specific name included in categorical pardons, further fueling the House Oversight Committee’s determination to probe the validity of his final executive acts.
