Former White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients gave the most detailed account yet in the House Oversight Committee’s probe into the misuse of the autopen and efforts to mask Joe Biden’s cognitive decline, according to a source familiar with his testimony.
Appearing for a transcribed interview Thursday, Zients acknowledged Biden’s “decision-making slowed” during the final months of his presidency, noting meetings that once took three sessions began to take four. He said Biden’s speech stumbles and memory lapses worsened with age, contradicting public assurances from White House officials during the 2024 campaign that he was “sharp” and “engaged.”
Zients testified that he and Jill Biden discussed adjusting the president’s schedule to allow more rest and shorter days. He admitted speaking with aides who later pleaded the Fifth, including Annie Tomasini, Anthony Bernal, and Dr. Kevin O’Connor, about limiting Biden’s public appearances to avoid strain. He also said top adviser Anita Dunn floated a cognitive exam after the June 2024 debate, while he himself urged Dr. O’Connor to conduct a full medical workup.
Zients told investigators Biden’s debate performance left him believing he should exit the race, a view he said was shared by Jake Sullivan and privately by Cabinet officials such as Gina Raimondo, Denis McDonough, and Antony Blinken. He added that Hunter Biden joined “a few meetings” on pardons late in the term before receiving one of the broadest pardons issued, covering tax and gun convictions.
Chairman James Comer said Zients “had a lot of responsibility with respect to the unauthorized use of the autopen.” Zients was the final witness among 14 former aides to testify. A final report is expected in the coming weeks.
Source: The Washington Examiner
