Former Biden Chief of Staff Confirms President's Cognitive Decline During Term

Jeff Zients, former White House chief of staff for President Joe Biden, testified to the House Oversight Committee that Biden experienced cognitive decline during his presidency, including worsening memory and slower decision-making. Zients revealed that after Biden's poor debate performance against President Donald Trump in June 2024, he suggested a full medical and cognitive exam to the White House physician, which was considered but not publicly acted upon. He also noted that Biden's decision-making process lengthened from requiring three meetings to four, and that First Lady Jill Biden requested that her husband be given more rest and less scheduling pressure. Additionally, Zients disclosed that Hunter Biden, the president's son, was involved in discussions about presidential pardons and attended related meetings, and that many of Biden's last-minute pardons were signed using an autopen. These revelations have added to ongoing investigations into Biden's fitness for office and the use of automated signatures for presidential actions. The House Oversight Committee continues to probe these matters, with Chairman James Comer not ruling out subpoenaing President Biden for testimony.