Menthol cigarettes have been in the crosshairs of anti-smoking groups for decades. They argue that menthol cigarettes contribute to disproportionate health burdens on Black communities and play a role in luring young people into smoking.
But a shocking undercover video released by Project Veritas – this time without its founder James O'Keefe – revealed that the Biden White House is deliberately stalling the enforcement of a menthol cigarette ban. In the clip, DOJ attorney Isaac Belfer revealed that the decision to delay the ban is driven by political concerns.
"There are some concerns that you might not want to do something, like criminalize a product that's used by tons of Black people – especially before an election," Belfer told the undercover reporter. The DOJ attorney acknowledged that "many thousands of Black people die every year because of menthol cigarettes," yet the ban is being slow-walked by the White House.
"[President Joe] Biden doesn't want to pass this regulation because he's worried he will lose Black voters. Biden used Black people. So we're being sued, saying, 'You should pass this regulation now with no excuse to hold it up because your people are dying.'"
He also noted the strong public health reasons for prohibiting menthol cigarettes, emphasizing that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) supports the regulation. However, the broader White House, which reviews all regulations, is stalling the process. (Related: FDA set to BAN MENTHOL cigarettes because it’s the “menthol” that makes it so hard for young people to quit smoking, so don’t worry about all the chemicals or the nicotine.)
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Continued delay in the ban causing harm to Black voters
"The undercover video sheds light on the administration's strategy, revealing that while the effort to ban menthol cigarettes has been ongoing for over a decade, its implementation is being deliberately delayed," YourNews pointed out.
"The video has sparked outrage and raised questions about the administration's commitment to public health and the integrity of its regulatory decisions. Critics argue that prioritizing political gains over the health and well-being of citizens is unacceptable, particularly when the stakes involve lives lost to preventable causes."
Menthol cigarettes account for a third of the industry's overall market share in the United States. But these highly addictive products have been criticized for their appeal to young smokers, as well as significant health impacts for Black communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 81 percent of Black adults who smoke cigarettes are using menthol varieties, compared with 34 percent of White adults.
Health Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement that the proposed ban had brought immense feedback, including from parts of the civil rights and criminal justice movement. "It's clear that there are still more conversations to have, and that will take significantly more time," he said. Based on his statement, Becerra appeared to suggest it would not be sorted before the presidential election in November.
Derrick Johnson, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said his organization was outraged and disgusted by the political move. "In an election year, politicians should be prioritizing people, not profiteers. Today's news from the Biden administration is a blow to the Black people, who continue to be unfairly targeted and unjustly killed by Big Tobacco," he said.
Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, also expressed dismay over the delay. "Two full years after releasing proposed rules backed by extensive scientific evidence – and more than a decade since the FDA began examining menthol cigarettes – the administration has failed to take decisive action to remove these deadly, addictive products from the market."
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Watch this video about the "racist" nature of menthol cigarettes.
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