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lite.cnn.com - on gopher - inofficial
ARTICLE VIEW:
Ex-Biden chief of staff testifies in GOP probe of former president’s
mental decline
By Annie Grayer, CNN
Updated:
8:11 PM EDT, Thu September 18, 2025
Source: CNN
Former White House chief of staff Jeff Zients testified behind closed
doors at length about former President Joe Biden’s aging throughout
the course of his term, including how he pushed Biden’s doctor to
conduct a full medical workup, according to a person familiar with the
transcribed interview.
Zients told House Oversight Committee investigators on Thursday that
Biden’s decision-making slowed during the course of his tenure and
that the former president’s difficulty remembering dates and names
worsened over time, the person told CNN.
The interview was part of the Republican-led panel’s ongoing
investigation into the former president’s potential cognitive decline
and possible efforts to conceal it from the public. Investigators have
spoken to a number of Biden’s closest former aides in recent months
as part of the probe.
After Biden’s last year, Zients shared that he recommended Biden’s
doctor, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, conduct a full medical workup, including
a cognitive exam, and O’Connor said he would take the suggestion
under advisement, the person familiar said.
Zients declined to comment to CNN on the testimony.
O’Connor to answer questions during his deposition in front of the
committee in July.
Ahead of the debate, Zients, according to the person familiar with his
testimony, said Biden had a cold but had never observed him act the way
he did on stage, including “mental freezes.”
Following the debate, Zients testified, he and other Biden advisers
believed that Biden should exit the race, according to the person
familiar.
Former first lady Jill Biden spoke with Zients about ensuring the then
president got more rest and was not overscheduled, the person said of
Zients’ testimony. A separate source told CNN that conversation
occurred in 2023.
Zients also shared that he discussed Biden’s age issues with other
former aides whom the House Oversight Committee has interviewed,
including Annie Tomasini and Anthony Bernal, who both invoked their
Fifth Amendment rights and declined to answer questions in their
separate interviews, the first person said.
The second source told CNN that Zients made clear in his testimony that
he saw his job as ensuring that Biden met with a range of advisers to
thoroughly consider issues so that he could make the best decisions,
but ultimately Biden made the final decisions alone.
Zients also articulated that he had full confidence in Biden’s
ability to serve as president, the second source said.
This story has been updated with additional details.
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