Congress Hears Testimony on Biden’s Cognitive Health

WASHINGTON – Former White House Chief Jeff Zients informed Congress on Thursday about concerns regarding the former president’s declining memory and decision-making skills during his time in office.

When pressed by reporters, Zients declined to provide answers, stating to the House Oversight Committee that after a troubling discussion on June 27, 2024, President Biden had requested “complete medical tests,” which included cognitive evaluations.

During that session, some Democrats seemed to struggle with their words, speaking hesitantly and delivering subpar analysis on public policy.

Biden’s campaign team and White House spokesperson brushed off concerns at the time, attributing the president’s stumble to a “cold,” only for him to be spotted shortly after the discussion at a Waffle House.

Zients claimed that the “psychiatric freeze” seen in aides was unusual and raised many questions.

Former White House communications advisor Anita Dunn and former national security advisor Jake Sullivan appeared to highlight the need for cognitive testing. However, notable figures like former Secretary Gina Raimondo and VA executive director Dennis McDonough, as well as Secretary of State Antony Blinken, didn’t share those concerns regarding Biden’s capability.

Some donors expressed worry, suggesting there were instances where the president relied on teleprompters during fundraising events for personal campaigns.

A source familiar with Zients’ testimony mentioned that one of his roles was to “ensure the President spoke with various advisors to make informed decisions.” They also remarked that Zients took pride in Biden’s ability to serve, mentioning he had been in office for four years.

Biden, according to the source, valued the input from multiple advisors and experts, yet the final call was made solely by him.

An initial source revealed that during a six-hour questioning by monitoring staff, it became apparent that “it’s hard to remember dates and names,” leading to repeated inquiries.

Age-related challenges have also been a topic of discussion in the West Wing throughout Biden’s presidency, with First Lady Jill Biden noting that her husband was “not overly scheduled” and allowed to return home earlier than usual.

The oversight committee has already spoken with several aides, including former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who left the role in June and has since spoken out about the administration she worked in.

O’Connor and Chief of Staff Anthony Bernal, who allegedly considered a cognitive assessment for Biden, invoked the Fifth Amendment, opting not to respond to the Republican-led panel’s questions.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Annie Tomasini also chose to invoke the Fifth but reportedly discussed “limiting walking distance and the number of stairs required to climb” with staff, according to a source.

Zients’ attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comments.