Another step in the investigation into former President Joe Biden’s fitness for office and the handling of executive power within his administration was taken this week when House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer of Kentucky sent letters to five former senior White House officials, demanding their participation in transcribed interviews.
The move is part of a widening investigation into the possible cover-up of Biden’s mental decline and the questions about of who had been directing key decisions from within the West Wing during his presidency.
“The American people deserve full transparency, and the House Oversight Committee is conducting a thorough investigation to provide answers and accountability,” Comer said. “The cover-up of President Biden’s mental decline is one of the greatest scandals in our nation’s history. These five former senior advisors were eyewitnesses to President Biden’s condition and operations within the Biden White House. They must appear before the House Oversight Committee and provide truthful answers about President Biden’s cognitive state and who was calling the shots.”
The five individuals newly contacted by the committee include:
- Michael Donilon, former senior advisor to the president
- Anita Dunn, former senior advisor for communications and former adviser to Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles
- Ronald Klain, former White House chief of staff
- Bruce Reed, former deputy chief of staff for policy
- Steve Ricchetti, former counselor to the president and Biden’s point person on the Willow project in Alaska
The committee is requesting that the former aides appear for transcribed interviews voluntarily. If they do not comply, subpoenas will be issued later this week to compel their testimony.
This follows an earlier round of requests and subpoenas last Congress for White House aides Annie Tomasini, Anthony Bernal, and Ashley Williams, as well as Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the former president’s personal physician. The White House refused to make those individuals available for interviews at the time, drawing accusations of obstruction from House lawmakers. Additionally, the Department of Justice under Biden defied a subpoena for audio recordings related to Special Counsel Robert Hur’s investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents, leading to Attorney General Merrick Garland being held in contempt of Congress.
The investigation draws support from a forthcoming book, Original Sin, which alleges that “Five people were running the country, and Joe Biden was at best a senior member of the board,” according to an unnamed source familiar with the White House inner workings.
Not on the list for questioning is former Alaska Rep. Mary Peltola, who in February of 2024 described Biden in glowing terms. “He’s one of the smartest, sharpest people I’ve met in D.C.,” she said, keeping up the narrative while concerns about his mental decline were swirling. Peltola is widely discussed in Alaska as a possible Democrat candidate for governor; thus, her participation in the cover-up is of interest to Alaskans. Did she really believe he was one of the sharpest people she had met, or was she willing to simply parrot the talking points given to her by party operatives?
In addition to Peltola, other Biden allies likewise insisted the President is “on top of his game,” as multiple cabinet officials and congressional Democrats have publicly stated.
The Oversight Committee’s probe appears to be narrowing in on the possibility that key executive actions—including presidential pardons—may have been issued without the full awareness or authority of the President himself. Comer said that determining who has been “calling the shots” in the White House is now central to the investigation.
Transcribed interview dates are expected to be announced this week. If the witnesses decline to cooperate voluntarily, subpoenas will follow, according to Committee officials.
The Biden White House has not yet issued a formal response to the new round of demands.
