Top Biden aides to testify in probe on mental decline cover-up
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The inquiry gained traction following a statement by Senator Ron Johnson to Axios on May 21, where he announced the launch of a probe into how the White House handled Biden's apparent mental decline.
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Former White House chief of staff Ron Klain is pictured in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
A growing number of former senior officials from Joe Biden's administration are set to testify before Congress as part of an investigation into claims that the former president's cognitive decline was hidden from the public, Politico reported on Wednesday.
Among them is Ron Klain, Biden's former Chief of Staff, who is scheduled to appear before the House Oversight Committee on July 24.
The committee has also lined up interviews with ex–senior advisor Mike Donilon and former counselor to the president Steve Ricchetti later this month. Anita Dunn and Deputy Chief of Staff Bruce Reed are expected to testify in early August.
Cognitive cover-up
According to Politico, the investigation, led by the Republican-controlled House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, centers on allegations that top White House aides may have played a role in concealing signs of Biden's mental deterioration during his final year in office.
The committee is seeking to determine whether staff members were making presidential decisions, potentially using autopen signatures, while Biden was no longer fit to carry out his duties.
The inquiry gained traction following a statement by Senator Ron Johnson to Axios on May 21, where he announced the launch of a probe into how the White House handled Biden's apparent decline.
Representative Buddy Carter subsequently introduced a bill proposing the creation of a special investigative panel to determine whether any health-related information had been withheld from the American public.
Additional scrutiny has been directed at Anthony Bernal, a senior advisor to First Lady Jill Biden, who initially agreed to testify but later backed out of a scheduled June 26 session.
Committee Chair James Comer accused Bernal of stonewalling the investigation and has since issued a subpoena compelling him to appear on July 16. Furthermore, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, Biden's former physician, has also been subpoenaed and is expected to testify on July 9.
Leadership doubts
Concerns about Biden's condition intensified after his office disclosed on May 18 that he had been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer.
Around the same time, reports of increased use of autopen signatures and limited direct engagement by Biden in high-level meetings added to suspicions about his capacity to lead.
Former Domestic Policy Council director Neera Tanden admitted in a closed-door session that she often relied on staff-written memos and seldom had personal interaction with the president.
Read more: Biden refers to himself as a 'black woman' in most recent gaffe
Mounting unease within the Democratic Party, amplified by Biden's poor performance in early 2024 debates, eventually led to his withdrawal from the presidential race.
Vice President Kamala Harris stepped in as the party's new nominee, amid growing pressure from within the administration and among Democratic lawmakers to address public concerns about Biden's health.
According to Axios, the coming weeks will witness a series of testimonies from top aides and advisors, as lawmakers attempt to assess whether the former president's condition was intentionally concealed, and whether it compromised the functioning of the executive branch.
