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According to Fox News Digital, Ron Klain, former chief of staff for ex-President Joe Biden, revealed to House investigators that Hillary Clinton expressed concerns to him about the political viability of the octogenarian leader by 2024.
Klain’s discussion with staff on the House Oversight Committee lasted over five hours on Thursday, as Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., continues to investigate whether top Biden aides hid signs of mental decline in the ex-president.
A source familiar with Klain’s voluntary interview informed Fox News Digital that Klain believed Biden was mentally sharp enough to serve as president and was not too old to run.
However, the source revealed that both Hillary Clinton and former Biden national security adviser Jake Sullivan approached Klain with doubts about Biden’s political viability months before he withdrew his re-election bid in July 2024.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shared concerns about ex-President Biden’s political viability by 2024, a source said. (Getty Images)
Sullivan reportedly informed Klain that Biden was less effective in 2024 compared to 2022, although the exact reasons for their doubts remain unclear.
This criticism from top national Democrats of Biden emerged long before concerns about his fitness for office within the party became public knowledge.
Adrienne Watson, a representative for Sullivan, denied the account in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Klain, who served as White House chief of staff during the first half of Biden’s term, acknowledged that the then-president’s energy levels decreased and his memory lapses increased over time, although he defended Biden’s ability to govern.
Ron Klain, former White House chief of staff, allegedly made the revelation to House investigators (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
During his visit to the committee room on Thursday, Klain did not provide any statements to reporters. He became the sixth former Biden administration aide to appear for Comer’s investigation.
Despite being mostly staff-led, Comer did make an appearance during the early part of the interview, with Reps. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., briefly present as well.
Both Biggs and Khanna described Klain as “credible” based on their observations inside the room.
Three other former Biden White House aides who previously appeared invoked the Fifth Amendment to avoid answering questions.
House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer is leading the probe into Biden. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Jeff Zients, who served as Biden’s chief of staff for the final two years, was also requested to participate in a transcribed interview.
A source familiar with the Biden team’s perspective previously criticized Republicans’ investigation as “dangerous” and “an attempt to smear and embarrass.”
Fox News Digital tried reaching out to Klain’s attorney and a contact for Clinton for comment but did not receive a response by press time.
