Senior Biden aide has spilled the secrets of his former master during the House Oversight Committee hearing investigating the ex-President’s mental decline and autopen use.
Ron Klain served as Biden’s White House Chief of Staff from January 2021 to February 2023 and as Democratic Chief of Staff when Biden was Vice President.
Unlike three other former aides who refused to appear voluntarily and were subpoenaed, Klain and two others appeared voluntarily for transcribed interviews.
He also spoke frankly about the issues the panel raised, unlike Biden’s senior advisors Annie Tomasini and Anthony Bernal, and former White House doctor Kevin O’Connor, who all invoked their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
House Oversight chair James Comer (R-KY) called the trend an elaborate scheme to shield themselves from liability.
“There is now a pattern of key Biden confidants seeking to shield themselves from criminal liability for this potential conspiracy,” Comer wrote.
The Kentucky Republican also stated that Bernal pleaded the fifth when asked “if any unelected official or family members executed the duties of the President and if Joe Biden ever instructed him to lie about his health.”
Dr. O’Connor, who was not only the White House physician but also Biden’s business partner and close confidant, specifically cited patient privilege when invoking his Fifth Amendment right.
However, Klain seemed to be fully cooperating with the inquiry by answering questions to the best of his ability. According to Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), Klain “answered every single question” and “was fully cooperative.”
“I found Mr. Klain to be very credible. He answered every single question. He was fully cooperative. There are times where he was asked about personal conversations he had with the President, & he was forthcoming,” Rep Khana said.
Arizona Republican Rep. Andy Biggs also praised his cooperativeness and his tendency not to invoke his Fifth Amendment right.
“Unlike the other Biden officials the committee has deposed, Klain is not asserting any executive privilege or invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination,” Rep. Biggs posted on X.
However, Rep. Biggs said many questions remain unanswered, especially in light of the recent Hunter Biden interview.
“I still have many unanswered questions regarding who was running the country and Joe Biden’s mental and physical acuity, especially in light of Hunter Biden’s revelation that his father was being drugged with Ambien,” said the Arizona Republican.
During the expletives-filled interview, Hunter claimed that Biden was drugged ahead of his disastrous debate against Trump that eventually led to his ouster, thus solidifying claims that his aides were in charge.
“They give him Ambien to be able to sleep,” Hunter said.
“He gets up on the stage. And he looks like he’s a deer in the headlights. And it feeds into every f—ing story that anybody wants to tell,” the former first son added.
Klain was among the debate preppers, and the former President allegedly told him that he was very exhausted. Whatever he tells the Oversight Committee panel will likely be groundbreaking. Nevertheless, the former aide refused to speak to reporters who gathered at the Capitol to interview him.
Previously, former Biden’s Senior Advisor and White House Staff Secretary, Neera Tanden, also spoke more freely when she appeared before the panel. She stated that she ran documents through the autopen following protocol without knowing whether Biden had personally authorized its use.
Meanwhile, the contents of the interviews are currently classified, with no expected release date.
