Former White House Chief of Staff Cooperates with GOP Probe into Biden’s Mental Fitness
WASHINGTON – Ron Crane, the former Chief of Staff, is reportedly “cooperative” as House Republicans investigate Joe Biden’s cognitive capabilities. This follows Crane’s recent comments about his former boss in a new book focusing on Biden.
As part of the so-called “Political Bro” group, Crane made significant choices during Biden’s presidency—especially when it came to the Oversight Committee’s inquiry into claims that senior staff shielded President Biden from scrutiny regarding his mental and physical health.
“There’s daily evidence suggesting that Biden isn’t mentally fit for the presidency,” stated House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY), who criticized Biden, alleging he needed sleeping pills to change his state of mind ahead of debates with Donald Trump.
Comer also expressed concern regarding Biden’s inconsistent interview performances and sought clarification about his June 27, 2024, preparations alongside special advisor Robert Hur.
While several high-profile aides opted to invoke the Fifth Amendment, Crane did not shy away from answering the committee’s questions.
“I found Mr. Crane to be quite reliable. He responded to every question and was very supportive,” remarked Rep. Locanna (D-Calif). “There was a moment when he discussed a personal interaction with the president, and he was open about it.”
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) added, “He doesn’t seem to be avoiding questions. He answered as expected.”
Despite Crane’s apparent willingness to share, his relationship with Biden has been complicated. After their past disagreements, particularly around 2016 when Crane sided against Biden’s campaign, he recently reached out to apologize for his commentary in the book.
In “Uncharted,” author Chris Whipple noted that Crane believes Biden seems “exhausted and disconnected.”
Crane recounted sitting around a table with Biden, mentioning how exhausted the president appeared and his lack of engagement with American politics, focusing instead on NATO leadership interactions.
At one point, Crane suggested that Biden might have thought he was the president of NATO rather than the United States.
Biggs commented that Crane’s statements echoed sentiments from the book and various articles surrounding this topic.
According to another publication, referred to as “The Original Crime,” Crane was identified as one of five senior aides believed to effectively “run the country.”
A source familiar with the inner workings remarked, “Biden was merely a senior board member,” emphasizing how these senior aides wielded significant power, often making major financial decisions without consulting key cabinet members, like Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
Moreover, the book presented insights into White House tensions. It revealed that Chief of Staff Ron Klain was “disappointed” in Biden’s debate preparations.
Compounding the narrative, another book titled “2024: How Trump Lost the White House and the Democrats” discussed Biden’s unstable emotional state following a debate in June 2024.
Previous aides have been called to testify regarding Biden’s cognitive decline, with one aide initially agreeing to appear but later requesting a subpoena.
Others, including Jill Biden’s close confidant Bernal, have also exercised their Fifth Amendment rights during recent hearings. The Oversight Committee is set to hear from four more members of Biden’s inner circle, including Zients, who recently approved the use of an autopen for pardons.
