House Oversight Committee Plans Interviews with Biden Aides

The House Oversight Committee is set to conduct five additional voluntary transcription interviews with aides from the Biden White House, all of whom have confirmed their participation. An assistant from the committee mentioned that multiple interviews with high-ranking officials from the Biden administration are scheduled to take place in late July and early August.

On July 24, Ron Crane, a former chief of staff to President Biden, is expected to provide testimony to the committee. This comes amid an investigation that now includes inquiries into President Biden’s cognitive decline, highlighted by comments from a White House spokesperson trying to defend his mental fitness.

Following Crane, several other former officials are lined up to testify: Steve Richetti, a former counselor to the President, on July 30; Mike Donilon, a former senior adviser, on July 31; and Bruce Reed, a former deputy chief of staff for Policy, scheduled for August 5. Additionally, Anita Dunn’s former communications advisor is also set to appear on August 7.

Previously, the committee confirmed that former special assistants to Ashley Williams, president and vice-director of Oval Office Operations, will testify on July 11. Moreover, former assistants to the vice-chief of staff, Anni Tomasini, are slated to follow on July 18. Chair of the committee, James Comer, has also called upon Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the former White House doctor for Biden, to appear for questioning on July 9.

Comer had earlier summoned Anthony Bernal, the President’s former assistant and a senior adviser to the First Lady, to testify on July 16. There’s been some pushback, with Bernal reportedly refusing to cooperate in this investigation concerning potential cover-ups related to Biden’s mental health.

The committee has widened its investigation following an announcement on June 4, which set the stage for interviews with key figures in Biden’s circle, including Crane, Richetti, Donilon, and Reed. Interestingly, former President Donald Trump’s White House had previously softened legal privileges, allowing Congress access to discuss private conversations with nine former Biden staffers unless opposed by Biden or his team in court.

After the White House announcement, it came to light that Bernal had not showed up for his scheduled interview on June 26, leading Comer to reach out again, indicating a potential subpoena was in mind if Bernal continued to evade the process.

Moreover, the committee has reached out to additional former Biden officials, including press chief Karine Jean-Pierre and past Chiefs of Staff, seeking their testimonies as part of the cognitive decline investigation. This growing scrutiny aims to uncover more details concerning Biden’s mental fitness during his presidency.

In a notable testimony, Neela Tanden, a former staff secretary and senior adviser, noted that the autopen was utilized from October 2021 through May 2023, although she seemed uncertain about who ultimately approved its use.