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Home Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., is investigating whether or not former President Joe Biden’s closest aides labored to hide proof of psychological decline within the octogenarian Democrat throughout his White Home time period, and whether or not an autopen was used for govt selections with out his information.
Biden himself asserted to the New York Occasions that he “made each resolution” concerning autopen pardons particularly, and his allies have dismissed the GOP-led probe as a partisan present.
A number of ex-senior White Home officers are due within the coming weeks, together with former press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and ex-White Home chief of employees Jeff Zeints.
However Comer’s employees have additionally met with quite a few folks to this point – some who’ve stated little or no, whereas others have given no data in any respect.
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Former President Joe Biden’s psychological acuity whereas in workplace is the topic of a probe by the GOP-run Home Oversight Committee. (AP Photograph/Andrew Harnik, File)
Beneath are the eight individuals who have sat down with Home investigators to this point:
Neera tooth
Former White Home employees secretary Neera Tanden appeared for a voluntary interview on June 24.
A supply conversant in Tanden’s interview stated she described having “minimal interplay” with Biden throughout her sit-down with investigators.
Former Biden aide Neera Tanden was the primary to look in Comer’s probe. (Getty Photographs)
Tanden additionally stated she would submit requests for autopen signatures to members of Biden’s workforce, however was not conscious of what actions or approvals occurred between the time she despatched the memo and the time she obtained it again with the president’s approval, the supply stated.
Tanden’s lawyer advised Fox Information on the time that she “persistently adopted a protocol” that was utilized by each Republican and Democratic administrations previously.
“That very same protocol existed within the Clinton and Obama administrations, which Ms. Tanden realized in discussions with earlier employees secretaries from these administrations. She additional understood and believed that the identical course of was adopted within the Trump 1 and Bush administrations,” the lawyer stated.
Tanden had been tapped to steer the Workplace of Administration and Funds (OMB) early in Biden’s time period, however she withdrew after bipartisan pushback within the Senate.
Kevin O’Connor
Former White Home doctor Kevin O’Connor was the second ex-Biden administration official to look when he got here in on July 9, and the primary to look below subpoena.
Earlier than serving as White Home physician, nevertheless, O’Connor was recognized to be an in depth affiliate of the Biden household for years.
Investigators had been hoping to be taught whether or not O’Connor knowingly obscured indicators of superior growing older or lack of psychological acuity in Biden. He notably met with a Parkinson’s Illness knowledgeable on the White Home at one level, based on the New York Occasions – although the revelations had been downplayed by the White Home on the time.
O’Connor’s attorneys had tried to delay his scheduled deposition date over issues that the scope of the committee’s investigation would violate doctor-patient confidentiality.
He finally did seem when Comer rejected his delay request, however O’Connor was out and in of the committee room in lower than an hour after pleading the Fifth Modification to all questions, save for his title.
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Ashley Williams
Ashley Williams is a longtime Biden advisor who nonetheless works for the previous president, based on her LinkedIn. She appeared for a voluntary transcribed interview on July 11.
The shut Biden ally’s time with him goes again to aiding then-second woman Jill Biden throughout the Obama administration, based on a 2019 profile of Biden staffers.
Ashley Williams, former deputy director of White Home Oval Workplace operations, stated she didn’t “recall” to a number of questions. (Al Drago/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photographs)
She served as his journey director for the 2020 marketing campaign earlier than being employed to the White Home as deputy director of Oval Workplace Operations and a particular assistant to the president.
Williams repeatedly advised committee employees throughout her sit-down that she didn’t “recall” numerous issues “an untold variety of instances,” however that she believed Biden was match to be president immediately, a supply advised Fox Information Digital.
“Examples embody she couldn’t recall if she spoke with President Biden within the final week, if teleprompters had been used for Cupboard conferences, if there have been discussions about President Biden utilizing a wheelchair, if there have been discussions a couple of cognitive take a look at, if she mentioned a psychological or bodily decline of President Biden, if she ever needed to wake President Biden up and the way she obtained concerned together with his 2020 marketing campaign,” the supply stated.
Anthony Bernal
Anthony Bernal, who was nicknamed Jill Biden’s “work husband” for his or her shut relationship, was the second particular person subpoenaed to look.
Like O’Connor, Bernal’s July 16 deposition lasted lower than an hour after he pleaded the Fifth Modification to investigators.
Bernal served as former Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor to the First Woman. He additionally nonetheless seems to work for the Bidens, based on LinkedIn, which says he works for Jill Biden particularly.
“Throughout his deposition immediately, Mr. Bernal pleaded the Fifth when requested if any unelected official or members of the family executed the duties of the President and if Joe Biden ever instructed him to lie about his well being,” Comer stated in an announcement after Bernal’s deposition.
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Annie Tomasini
Former Particular Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Oval Workplace Operations Annie Tomasini had been scheduled to look for a transcribed interview, earlier than her counsel requested a subpoena from Comer shortly earlier than her July 18 look.
Tomasini adopted O’Connor and Bernal’s lead in pleading the Fifth Modification, which individuals coming in voluntarily can’t do.
“Throughout her deposition immediately, Ms. Tomasini pleaded the Fifth when requested if Joe Biden, a member of his household, or anybody on the White Home instructed her to lie concerning his well being at any time,” Comer stated in an announcement after her deposition.
“She additionally pleaded the Fifth when requested if she ever suggested President Biden on the dealing with of labeled paperwork present in his storage, if President Biden or anybody within the White Home instructed her to hide or destroy labeled materials discovered at President Biden’s house or workplace, and if she ever conspired with anybody within the White Home to cover data concerning the Biden household’s ‘enterprise’ dealings.”
She first labored for Biden as a press secretary when he chaired the Senate Overseas Relations Committee as a U.S. senator from Delaware.
Ron klain
Ron Klain served as Biden’s chief of employees for the primary two years of his White Home time period and performed a key function in making ready him for his disastrous 2024 presidential debate towards former President Donald Trump.
Klain advised investigators that he believed Biden’s reminiscence obtained worse over time, however he nonetheless had the power to manipulate, a supply conversant in his interview advised Fox Information Digital.
The supply stated Klain additionally claimed to have heard issues about Biden’s political viability from each former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Biden’s personal nationwide safety advisor, Jake Sullivan, by 2024, although it isn’t clear if these issues are tied to his psychological acuity nor that they spoke to Klain collectively.
A spokesperson for Sullivan vehemently denied the account.
Klain additionally advised investigators that Biden appeared drained and sick earlier than the 2024 debate, the supply stated.
In a letter requesting his look, Comer quoted Klain as chopping Biden’s debate prep brief final yr, “as a result of president’s fatigue and lack of familiarity with the subject material,” including that Biden “didn’t actually perceive what his argument was on inflation,” citing a POLITICO report from earlier this yr.
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Steve Ricchetti
Former counselor to the president Steve Ricchetti sat down with Home investigators earlier this week on voluntary phrases.
In contrast to the overwhelming majority of others earlier than him, who didn’t acknowledge media gathered exterior the committee room, Ricchetti advised Fox Information’ Chad Pergram that “in fact” Biden was as much as the job of president.
Ricchetti’s interview was additionally the longest by far – working roughly eight hours on Wednesday.
Former counselor to the president Steve Ricchetti met with Home investigators on Wednesday for what was described as a “combative” interview. (Getty Photographs)
A supply conversant in Ricchetti’s sitdown described him as “combative and defensive” throughout exchanges with Home Oversight employees.
Ricchetti asserted he had private relationships with Jill Biden and Hunter Biden along with the previous president, the supply stated.
His family had relationships with the Biden administration as nicely – three of his 4 kids labored within the Treasury, State Division and within the White Home.
The longtime Democratic operative and lobbyist was one in every of two longtime trusted aides reportedly with Biden in Rehoboth Seaside, Delaware, when he drafted his bombshell letter asserting he was dropping out of the 2024 presidential race.
Mike Donilon
Former senior advisor to the president Mike Donilon is the most recent member of Biden’s internal circle to look earlier than Home investigators, sitting down with them voluntarily on Thursday for roughly 5 hours.
Longtime Biden advisor Mike Donilon advised Home Oversight Committee investigators he might’ve gotten as much as $8 million had Biden gained re-election. (Getty Photographs)
Donilon first started working for Biden in 1981 as a pollster when Biden was the junior U.S. senator from Delaware.
Alongside Ricchetti, he was one in every of two Biden aides who had been current when he drafted his announcement dropping out of the 2024 presidential race.
Donilon advised investigators he obtained $4 million to work for Biden’s 2024 re-election marketing campaign and would have gotten $4 million extra if Biden had gained, a supply advised Fox Information Digital.
He staunchly defended Biden throughout his interview, the supply stated, accusing Democrats of overreacting within the wake of Biden’s debate.
Six different ex-Biden administration aides are nonetheless set to look within the coming weeks. (Fox Information )
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Donilon advised investigators Biden is “a pacesetter who was deeply engaged and in command on vital points,” based on his opening assertion obtained by Fox Information Digital.
“Each president ages over the 4 years of a presidency and President Biden did as nicely, however he additionally continued to develop stronger and wiser as a pacesetter because of being examined by among the most tough challenges any president has ever confronted,” Donilon stated.
Fox Information Digital’s Deirdre Heavey contributed to this report.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox Information Digital main protection of the Home of Representatives. Earlier digital bylines seen at Day by day Mail and CBS Information.
Observe on Twitter at @liz_elkind and ship tricks to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
