Former chief of staff to testify in House probe of Biden’s cognitive decline, autopen use

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

Ron Klain
Former Biden chief of staff Ron Klain to testify in congressional hearing. (Ron Klain/Facebook)

(The Daily Signal) — 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.

This article was originally published at the Daily Signal

 

Fred Lucas

Fred Lucas is chief national affairs correspondent for The Daily Signal and co-host of "The Right Side of History" podcast. Lucas is also the author of "Abuse of Power: Inside The Three-Year Campaign to Impeach Donald Trump."