Ex-Staffer Klain Testifies Biden Lost Political Viability, Clinton Sullivan Express Doubts

Ron Klain, former chief of staff to President Joe Biden, testified before the House Oversight Committee that both Hillary Clinton and national security adviser Jake Sullivan expressed concerns about Biden's political viability well before the 2024 presidential race. Klain acknowledged that Biden, then 82, showed signs of cognitive decline such as increased forgetfulness and confusion of names, which worsened over time, though he maintained that Biden was mentally competent and not too old to serve. Sullivan reportedly told Klain that Biden was less effective in 2024 than in 2022, and Clinton shared similar doubts about Biden's chances, though Sullivan's spokesperson denied these conversations. Despite these concerns, Klain denied that Biden lacked the cognitive ability to govern or run for re-election. This testimony is part of a broader Republican-led investigation into whether Biden's aides attempted to conceal his mental decline during his presidency. Klain's decision to cooperate contrasts with other Biden aides, including Biden's doctor, who invoked the Fifth Amendment when questioned about the president's cognitive state.