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Zients Testimony Details Biden’s Worsening Memory as House Probe Wraps Interviews

The interview completes the panel’s witness phase before a final report on autopen practices and presidential assent.

FILE - White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients speaks during a press briefing at the White House, April 13, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
FILE - Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the White House Build America Investment Initiative roundtable, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. From left are, then-Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, Biden, then-National Economic Council Director Jeff Zients, and then-Senior Policy Adviser at the National Economic Jake Broder-Fingert. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
FILE - Secretary of State Antony Blinken, front, and Jeff Zients, White House coronavirus response coordinator, right, listen as President Joe Biden speaks about his administration's global COVID-19 vaccination efforts ahead of the G-7 summit, Thursday, June 10, 2021, in St. Ives, England. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
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Overview

  • In closed-door testimony, Jeff Zients told investigators that Joe Biden increasingly needed extra meetings to make decisions and had more trouble recalling names and dates in his final years in office.
  • Zients said he urged White House physician Kevin O’Connor to conduct a full medical workup, including a cognitive exam, after the June 2024 debate, and that O’Connor took the suggestion under advisement.
  • He recounted discussions with Jill Biden and senior aides about scaling back the president’s schedule, including limiting walking distances and stair use, according to people familiar with the interview.
  • Zients said Hunter Biden joined pardon discussions near the end of the term, and Axios reported an aide sent autopen authorization emails from Zients’ account for some clemency actions.
  • Sources said Zients believed Biden should exit the 2024 race after the debate, though he testified that Biden made final decisions and that he retained confidence in Biden’s ability to serve.