Empire State Review Contributor WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House Oversight Committee, under the leadership of Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), has expanded its inquiry into President Joe Biden’s cognitive health by requesting transcribed interviews with five additional former senior White House advisers. This move is part of a broader investigation into concerns about the president’s mental fitness during his tenure.
The former aides—Ron Klain, Anita Dunn, Bruce Reed, Mike Donilon, and Steve Ricchetti—have been asked to participate in closed-door interviews to discuss their observations of President Biden’s cognitive condition and the internal operations of the White House during his administration. The committee has set a deadline of June 11 for these individuals to confirm their participation voluntarily, with interviews scheduled between July 8 and July 24.
This development follows earlier requests for interviews with President Biden’s former physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, and five other former aides, including Annie Tomasini, Anthony Bernal, Ashley Williams, and Neera Tanden. The committee is investigating allegations that these individuals may have been involved in concealing information about the president’s cognitive health from the public.
Chairman Comer has expressed concerns that these former aides were key witnesses to President Biden’s condition and operations within the White House. He stated, “These five former senior advisers were eyewitnesses to President Biden’s condition and operations within the Biden White House. They must appear before the House Oversight Committee and provide truthful answers about President Biden’s cognitive state and who was calling the shots.”
The investigation has been fueled by recent reports and publications that question President Biden’s mental acuity during his presidency. A book titled “Original Sin,” co-authored by journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, alleges that top Democrats and individuals within Biden’s inner circle had serious misgivings about his ability to perform the duties of the presidency. The book includes claims that President Biden showed signs of cognitive decline and that his aides may have exercised presidential authority in his stead.
In addition to the House Oversight Committee’s investigation, former President Donald Trump has ordered a separate federal probe into allegations that President Biden’s aides concealed his mental decline and unconstitutionally used an autopen to sign official documents without his knowledge. Trump has appointed Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House Counsel David Warrington to lead this investigation, which will examine whether Biden was mentally competent during his presidency and whether autopen use obscured his cognitive condition.
President Biden, who is 82 years old, has dismissed these allegations as baseless. In a statement, he asserted that he was fully in control during his presidency and that any suggestion to the contrary is “ridiculous and false.” He emphasized that he made all decisions regarding pardons, executive orders, legislation, …
The White House has also responded to the investigations, with spokesperson Ian Sams describing them as “crazy, discredited conspiracy theories” aimed at scoring political points rather than engaging in legitimate oversight. Sams highlighted that similar practices, such as the use of an autopen, have been legally used by previous presidents, including Donald Trump.
Democrats have criticized the investigations as politically motivated distractions. Former President Bill Clinton defended President Biden’s mental competence, stating in an interview that he had never walked away from a conversation with Biden thinking he couldn’t do the job anymore.
The investigations come amid heightened scrutiny of President Biden’s health following a poor debate performance and a recent diagnosis of aggressive prostate cancer. These developments have intensified concerns about his age and mental acu … , leading to increased political tensions and debates over the transparency of presidential health disclosures.
As the House Oversight Committee continues its inquiry, the requested interviews with former aides and the president’s physician are expected to provide further insights into the internal operations of the Biden White House and the handling of concerns regarding the president’s cognitive health.
