Biden Chief of Staff Set to Testify in House Probe of Cognitive Decline, Autopen Use

Former White House chief of staff Ron Klain has agreed to take questions from congressional investigators probing former President Joe Biden’s apparent cognitive decline, according to an aide with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. 

The committee is also investigating the potential unauthorized issuance of sweeping pardons and other executive actions. 

Klain agreed to a voluntary transcribed interview with the committee on July 24. He’s among several former Biden White House officials who agreed voluntarily to take questions, avoiding a subpoena. 

A longtime operative in Democrat politics, Klain was Biden’s chief of staff as vice president and later the Ebola virus response coordinator in the Barack Obama White House. Well before that, Klaine was the chief of staff for Vice President Al Gore.

After two other potential witnesses would not agree to take questions from the committee, House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., issued two subpoenas. One was to Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the former White House physician. The other was to Anthony Bernal, former senior adviser to first lady Jill Biden. Both have been compelled to appear this month. 

Steve Ricchetti, former counselor to the president, agreed to the same on July 30. The next day, Mike Donilon, former senior adviser to Biden, will take questions. 

On Aug. 5, Bruce Reed, former deputy chief of staff for policy, will do a transcribed interview with the committee. On Aug. 7, Anita Dunn, a former senior adviser to the president for communications, will be interviewed. 

The committee has been able to get agreements for voluntary transcribed interviews from most former Biden officials. 

Last week, the committee asked Biden’s second chief of staff, Jeff Zients, to take questions, along with others. 

In the coming week, Ashley Williams, deputy director of Oval Office operations, and Annie Tomasini, former deputy chief of staff, agreed to meet for voluntary transcribed interviews on July 11 and July 18, respectively.