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House Oversight Committee Chairman James Kommer, R-KY. is investigating whether former President Joe Biden’s closest aide worked to hide evidence of the mental decline of the 8th-century Democrats during his White House term, and whether the autopen was used in enforcement decisions without his knowledge.
Biden himself claimed to the New York Times that he had specifically “made every decision” about the autopen pardon, and his allies dismissed the GOP-led probe as a partisan show.
Within weeks, there have been several former White House staff, including former press secretary Carine Jean Pierre and former white House speaker Jeff Zainz.
However, the Comer staff have met many people in the past. Some people have barely said that, while others have given no information at all.
Comer rejects Biden Doctor’s bid to pause with the cover-up probe: “Dropping all excuses”
Former President Joe Biden’s mental vision is subject to investigation by the House of Representatives Oversight Committee. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
Below are eight people who have so far sat with the home investigators.
Neeratanden
Former White House Director Neela Tanden appeared in a voluntary interview on June 24th.
Sources familiar with Tanden’s interviews said he had “minimal interactions” with Biden during his sit-in with investigators.
Former Biden aide Neela Tanden was the first to appear on Comer’s probe. (Getty Images)
Tanden also said he would submit a request to members of Biden’s team to sign an autopen, but he was unaware of what actions or approvals occurred between the time he sent the memo and the time he received with the president’s approval, sources said.
Tanden’s lawyer told Fox News at the time that he “consistently followed protocols” used by both Republican and Democrat administrations in the past.
“That same protocol existed in the Clinton and Obama administrations. Tanden learned from discussions with previous staff secretaries in these administrations. She further believed and believed that the same process followed in Trump 1 and Bush administrations,” the lawyer said.
Tanden was tapped to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) early in Biden’s term, but withdrew after a bipartisan pushback in the Senate.
Kevin O’Connor
Former White House doctor Kevin O’Connor was the second former Biden administration official who appeared when he came on July 9th, and first appeared under the subpoena.
But before serving as a White House doctor, O’Connor was known to be a close ally of the Biden family for years.
Investigators wanted to know if O’Connor intentionally obscure any signs of Biden’s high aging or loss of mental vision. According to the New York Times, he met with experts on Parkinson’s disease in particular in the White House, but the revelation was being disregarded by the White House at the time.
O’Connor’s lawyers have sought to delay the scheduled date of deposit for concerns that the scope of the committee’s investigation would violate the confidentiality of the doctor and patient.
He eventually appeared when Comer refused the delayed request, but O’Connor went in and out of the committee room less than an hour after suing the Fifth Amendment of all questions, leaving his name.
As the house probe gets hot, he says “I never worried” about Biden’s mental state before.
Ashley Williams
According to her LinkedIn, Ashley Williams is a longtime Biden advisor and still works for the former president. She appeared in a voluntary transcription interview on July 11th.
According to the Biden Staff profile in 2019, Biden Alley’s time with him during the Obama administration will return to supporting then-Lady Gil Biden during the Obama administration.
Ashley Williams, former assistant director of White House Oval Office Operations, said he never “remembers” multiple questions. (Aldrago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
She served as his travel director for the 2020 campaign, before being hired by the White House as the assistant director of oval office operations, serving as a special assistant to the president.
Williams repeatedly did not speak to committee staff during the sit-in.
“Examples include whether you spoke with President Biden last week, if teleprompter was used at a cabinet meeting, if there was a discussion about President Biden using a wheelchair, if there was discussion about cognitive testing, if President Biden woke up, if President Biden joined the 2020 campaign, if she was involved in the 2020 campaign, she couldn’t recall anything that she couldn’t remember.
Anthony Vernal
Called Jill Biden’s “work husband” and nicknamed for their close relationship, Anthony Bernal was the second person summoned to appear.
Like O’Connor, Bernal’s July 16 deposition continued less than an hour after granting investigators the fifth amendment.
Bernal served as the president’s former assistant and senior advisor to First Lady. He still appears to be working for the Bidens. Lindenn says he specifically works for Jill Biden.
“During today’s deposit, Bernal sued the fifth when asked whether unelected officials and families had fulfilled their presidential duties and whether Joe Biden had instructed him to lie about his health.”
Ron Crane dodges reporters after marathon grill with Biden cover-up probe
Annie Tomasini
A former special assistant to Anni Tomasini, president and vice-director of Oval Office Office Operations, was scheduled to appear in a transcribed interview shortly before her attorney requested a subpoena from Comer, shortly before her appearance on July 18th.
Tomasini followed O’Connor and Bernal’s lead to suing the Fifth Amendment.
“During her deposition today, Tomasini sued the fifth when asked whether or not someone from the White House, a member of his family, Joe Biden, or someone from the White House, had instructed him to lie about his health,” Comer said in a statement after her deposition.
“She also sued the fifth when asked if he had ever advised President Biden if he or she instructed him to conceal or destroy confidential material found at President Biden’s home or office, or if President Biden or someone from the White House conspired with someone from the White House to hide information about the Biden family’s dealings.
She was the first reporter for Biden when she chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as a US Senator in Delaware.
Ron Crane
Ron Crane served as Biden’s Chief of Staff for the first two years of his White House term and played a key role in preparing the president’s 2024 debate against former President Donald Trump.
Crane told investigators that Biden’s memory had worsened over time, but he still had the ability to govern, a source familiar with his interview told Fox News Digital.
Sources claimed that by 2024, Crane had heard concerns about Biden’s political viability from both former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Biden’s own national security adviser Jake Sullivan, but it is not clear whether those concerns were tied to his mental vision or he spoke with him.
A Sullivan spokesman vehemently rejected the account.
Crane also told investigators that Biden looked tired and sick before the 2024 debate, sources said.
In a letter demanding his appearance, Comer quoted Klain as cutting off preparations for Biden’s argument last year. “Because of the president’s fatigue and lack of familiarity with the subject,” Biden cited Politico’s report earlier this year, adding that his arguments didn’t really understand the arguments about inflation.
Longtime aide Biden says he was standing to earn up to $8 million if the president was re-election
Steve Richetty
President Steve Richetti’s former counselor sat with House investigators on voluntary terms earlier this week.
Unlike the majority of his previous members of the group who refused to acknowledge the media gathered outside the committee room, Richetti told Fox News’ “Chad Pargram” that “of course” Biden is in the presidential job.
The interview with Richetti lasted about eight hours on Wednesday.
President Steve Richetti’s former counselor met with House investigators on Wednesday for what was called a “fighting” interview. (Getty Images)
A source familiar with Richetti’s sit-ins described him as “combat and defensive” during his exchange with residential surveillance staff.
Richetti claimed he had a personal relationship with Jill Biden and Hunter Biden in addition to the former president, sources said.
His own family was also associated with the Biden administration. Three of his four children worked in the Treasury, the State Department and the White House.
The longtime democratic operative and lobbyist, one of two long-time trusted aides with Biden in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, reportedly drafted a bomb letter announcing he had dropped out of the presidential race in 2024.
Mike Donilon
President Mike Donilon’s former senior adviser is the latest member of Biden’s inner circle appearing in front of the home investigators, sitting voluntarily for about five hours on Thursday.
Longtime Biden adviser Mike Donilon told House Oversight Committee investigators that if Biden had won reelection, he could have reached up to $8 million. (Getty Images)
Donilon first began working for Biden as a voter in 1981 when Biden was a US Senator in Delaware.
Alongside Richetti, he was one of two Biden aides who attended when he drafted his announcement that he had dropped out of the 2024 presidential election.
Donilon told investigators he received $4 million to work for Biden’s 2024 reelection campaign and would earn another $4 million if Biden wins, a source told Fox News Digital.
He stubbornly defended Biden during the interview, sources accusing him of overreacting Democrats after Biden’s argument.
Six other former administration aides are set to appear in the coming weeks. (Fox News)
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Donilon said Biden is “a leader who is deeply involved and commands on critical issues,” according to his opening statement obtained by Fox News Digital.
“The president and President Biden have also aged in four years, but have continued to grow stronger and wisely as leaders, as tested by some of the toughest challenges the president has ever faced,” Donilon said.
Deirdre Heavey of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
Elizabeth Elkind is the main reporter of Fox News Digital’s reporting in the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen on Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow me on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to Elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
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