Joe Biden’s first White House chief of staff and longtime confidant told House investigators Thursday that while Biden became less energetic and his memory declined during his time in office, he still possessed the mental acuity to perform the duties of the presidency.
However, in his transcribed interview with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Ron Klain said that former Secretary of State and two-time presidential loser Hillary Clinton, along with Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan, had approached him to express concerns that Biden was no longer politically viable for a 2024 run.
According to a source familiar with Klain’s transcribed interview with the commitee, Sullivan told Klain that Biden appeared less effective in 2024 than he was in 2022. Klain also testified that while Biden had sufficient “mental sharpness” for the job, he was “less energetic and more forgetful.”
Klain told the committee that Biden appeared tired and unwell ahead of the June 2024 debate with his opponent and eventual victor, Donald Trump—a moment that marked a turning point, as Democratic leaders began urging Biden to withdraw from the race.
Klain’s voluntary testimony comes just over a year after Biden ended his reelection campaign and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor. He also stated that he was unaware Biden had been taking Ambien, a prescription sleep aid, prior to the debate, a revelation made by Hunter Biden in an interview that aired last week.
The House Oversight Committee is investigating signs of Biden’s cognitive decline, including whether unauthorized individuals issued sweeping pardons or executive actions on his behalf. Klain is among several former Biden White House officials who agreed voluntarily to answer questions from the committee, avoiding a subpoena.
