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House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., is currently investigating whether former President Joe Biden’s closest aides attempted to hide any signs of mental decline in the elderly Democrat during his time in the White House, as well as whether an autopen was utilized for executive decisions without his knowledge.
Biden himself told the New York Times that he was solely responsible for autopen pardons, and his allies have dismissed the GOP-led investigation as a partisan spectacle.
Several former senior White House officials are expected to appear in the upcoming weeks, including former press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and ex-White House chief of staff Jeff Zeints.
Comer’s team has also met with several individuals so far – some who have provided minimal information, while others have been uncooperative.
Below are the eight individuals who have already met with House investigators:
Neera Tanden
Former White House staff secretary Neera Tanden participated in a voluntary interview on June 24.
A source familiar with Tanden’s interview stated that she had limited interaction with Biden during her conversation with investigators.
Former Biden aide Neera Tanden was the first to appear in Comer’s probe. (Getty Images)
Tanden mentioned that she would request autopen signatures from members of Biden’s team, but was unaware of the actions taken between the time she submitted the request and when she received it back with the president’s approval.
Tanden’s lawyer stated that she followed an established protocol used by previous administrations, both Republican and Democratic.
Tanden was initially chosen to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in Biden’s administration, but she withdrew after facing resistance in the Senate.
Kevin O’Connor
Former White House physician Kevin O’Connor was the second ex-Biden administration official to meet with investigators on July 9, and the first to do so under subpoena.
Prior to serving as White House doctor, O’Connor had longstanding ties to the Biden family.
Investigators sought to determine if O’Connor purposefully hid any signs of aging or mental decline in Biden. O’Connor had met with a Parkinson’s Disease expert at the White House, though the significance of this meeting was downplayed by the White House.
O’Connor’s lawyers attempted to delay his deposition due to concerns about violating doctor-patient confidentiality. However, Comer rejected the delay and O’Connor ultimately invoked the Fifth Amendment during his deposition.
Ashley Williams
Ashley Williams, a longtime Biden advisor, voluntarily participated in a transcribed interview on July 11.
Williams has been associated with Biden since her time working with then-second lady Jill Biden during the Obama administration.
Ashley Williams, former deputy director of White House Oval Office operations, said she did not “recall” to multiple questions. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
During her interview, Williams claimed she could not recall various details multiple times, but she expressed confidence in Biden’s ability to serve as president. She mentioned not recalling discussions about Biden’s health, cognitive tests, or other related topics.
Anthony Bernal
Anthony Bernal, known as Jill Biden’s “work husband,” was the second person subpoenaed to appear before investigators.
Bernal’s deposition lasted less than an hour after he invoked the Fifth Amendment during questioning.
Bernal previously served as Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor to the First Lady, and he currently works for Jill Biden.
Annie Tomasini
Annie Tomasini, former Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Oval Office Operations, was scheduled for a transcribed interview, but requested a subpoena shortly before her appearance on July 18.
Similar to previous witnesses, Tomasini invoked the Fifth Amendment during her deposition.
She first worked for Biden as a press secretary when he chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Ron Klain
Ron Klain, Biden’s former chief of staff, acknowledged to investigators that Biden’s memory declined over time, but he believed Biden was still capable of governing.
During his interview, Klain mentioned hearing concerns about Biden’s political viability from Hillary Clinton and Jake Sullivan, though it’s unclear if these concerns were related to his mental acuity.
Steve Ricchetti
Former counselor to the president Steve Ricchetti met with House investigators voluntarily this week.
Ricchetti’s interview was the longest, lasting approximately eight hours.
A source described Ricchetti as being combative and defensive during the interview.
Mike Donilon
Former senior advisor to the president Mike Donilon voluntarily met with House investigators for about five hours on Thursday.
Donilon defended Biden during his interview and mentioned his substantial financial incentive to work on Biden’s re-election campaign.
He emphasized Biden’s leadership qualities and ability to handle challenging situations.
Donilon began working for Biden in 1981 as a pollster when Biden was a U.S. senator.
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Donilon highlighted Biden’s growth and resilience as a leader, despite the challenges he faced during his presidency.
Contributions by Deirdre Heavey, Fox News Digital.
