Newou can listen to Fox News articles!
Former President Joe Biden’s inner circle sat with House Oversight Committee investigators for a closed door interview for a marathon that lasted more than eight hours on Wednesday.
Steve Richetti, who served as presidential counselor for all four years of Biden’s term, was described as “military and defensive” during his voluntary meeting.
Sources explained that Richetti was rebellious in the face of doubt about Biden’s mental vision, but they said he “knowing that President Biden’s age was a problem and treated it as a political issue.”
“Ricchetti said he believes President Biden has the ability to become president and is doing his job every day. He believes Joe Biden could become president today and win in 2024,” a source told Fox News Digital.
Comer rejects Biden Doctor’s bid to pause with the cover-up probe: “Dropping all excuses”
President Steve Richetti’s former counselor met with House investigators on Wednesday. (Getty Images)
Longtime democratic operative and lobbyist Richetti first began working for Biden in March 2012 when he was appointed vice presidential counselor under former President Barack Obama. He was promoted to Biden’s Chief of Staff in December 2013.
He touted his intimacy with Biden over the past 13 years, saying he has a personal relationship with former First Lady Jill Biden and Hunter Biden.
Richetti’s own children were also close to the White House during Biden’s tenure. At least three people were working in a democratic government at one point.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Kommer, R-KY. is investigating whether Biden’s top White House aides have hidden signs of the president’s mental decline.
Richetti has been involved with Biden for over a decade. (Jonathan Ernst)
Richetti is the seventh former Biden aide, but the fourth aide to appear on voluntary terms. Former White House doctors Kevin O’Connor and former White House aides Annie Tomasini and Anthony Bernal all granted the Fifth Amendment to avoid answering questions.
Richetty told investigators he was not involved in Biden’s O’Connor’s physical assessment, but “but he had a conversation with senior staff about how to communicate and present President Biden’s physical assessment,” a source told Fox News Digital.
He also defended Biden’s frequent gaffes, describing it as a “general mistake” that anyone can make, sources said.
“He said that the frequency of these mistakes has not increased because Joe Biden was the vice president,” the source said.
Ron Crane dodges reporters after marathon grill with Biden cover-up probe
Click here to get the Fox News app
Most of the questions during the eight-hour session were from Republicans. Sources said Democrats tried to change the topic to discuss President Donald Trump.
Richetti said nothing to reporters when he left the meeting Wednesday evening.
Usually, there were no lawmakers due to sit-downs, as in such transcribed interviews.
Fox News Digital reached out to Richetty’s attorney for comment, but did not respond to the reporting time.
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
Source link
