CNN’s Van Jones warned Sunday that Democrats could face lasting political consequences for concealing President Joe Biden’s physical and mental decline.

The issue has drawn renewed attention ahead of the release of Original Sin, a forthcoming book by CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson. During an appearance on State of the Union, Tapper asked Jones for his reaction to an advance copy of the book. Jones criticized those who knew the full extent of Biden’s decline but remained silent, accusing them of failing to speak out about the president’s diminishing capacity.

“This book is extraordinary. I don’t care who you are, left, right or otherwise. Anybody who cares about this country and about just the dynamics of power, this is ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’ playing itself out in real time,” Jones said.

The former Obama official continued: “Everybody knew, but everyone was afraid to say — except for [former Obama administration official] David Axelrod — for two years, that something was wrong here. And so, you know, I was shocked. I love Joe Biden. I don’t like him, I love him. I got a chance to work with him when I was a part of the Obama administration and loved him more every day.”

“I was shocked to see his condition when he came out [for the June 27 debate]. And so was the world. And that wasn’t the first time he was in that condition,” he continued. “The book makes it very very clear, there are people who knew and said nothing.

“And that is a crime against this republic. And I think the Democrats are going to pay for a long time for being a part of what is now being revealed to be a massive cover-up,” Jones said.

Another potential massive cover-up: CNN reported on Sunday that Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasized into his bones, giving the former president a grim diagnosis.

It’s not clear how long Biden has had the condition, leaving some to wonder if it’s the real reason why he dropped out of his reelection race against Trump.