Former Biden Advisor Dunn Testifies in House Mental Decline, Autopen Probe

Anita Dunn, a longtime senior adviser and influential figure in President Joe Biden's political orbit, appeared voluntarily before the House Oversight Committee as part of an investigation into whether Biden's inner circle concealed signs of his cognitive decline and unauthorized use of an autopen to sign executive actions. She was the tenth former Biden administration official to be questioned, with three others having invoked the Fifth Amendment to avoid testifying. Dunn declined to answer questions from reporters about Biden's competence and memory issues, and her opening statement claimed Biden was "fully engaged" and "appropriately accessible," a characterization met with skepticism by the committee and public observers. The investigation, led by Republican Rep. James Comer, centers on whether Biden's aides misled the public and circumvented constitutional safeguards regarding the president's mental fitness. While some former officials defended Biden's mental acuity, others have expressed concerns about the effects of his age, and Dunn's close role in Biden's communications and reelection campaign places her at the center of the probe. Additional depositions are expected as the committee continues to examine the allegations.