The Democratic Party is grappling with internal strife following former President Joe Biden’s disappointing performance during the June 2024 presidential debate against Donald Trump, igniting a fierce and unprecedented conflict among his former staffers.

On Tuesday, a congressional report unveiled the dynamics within Biden’s circle, highlighting which high-ranking officials were adamant about him maintaining his political pursuit despite his waning campaign, and which loyalists were alarmed by his condition, suggesting it was time for him to step down.

The Republican-led House Oversight Committee embarked on a thorough investigation, interviewing numerous former officials to delve into concerns about Biden’s health and his use of an autopen.

Several ex-officials provided valuable insights into the tumultuous period marked by Biden’s declining poll numbers after the debate, as the chorus of voices urging him to withdraw from the race grew louder.

Nonetheless, three of Biden’s closest former aides invoked the Fifth Amendment, opting not to engage with the congressional inquiry.

Jeff Zients, Biden’s former Chief of Staff, revealed to the committee that he, along with a group of top advisors, including former National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, and Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough, had voiced apprehensions about Biden continuing his campaign following his lackluster debate performance.

‘Within a few days after the debate, [Biden] was aware of my view that I thought it was prudent to consider getting out of the race,’ Zients told investigators.

The former Biden chief of staff also asked Dr. Kevin O’Connor, former physician to the president, to do a ‘full work-up’ of medical exams after the debate. O’Connor, however, did not cooperate with the panel and repeatedly invoked his right to remain silent. 

A new congressional report details the discord in Joe Biden’s inner circle after his disastrous 2024 presidential debate against Donald Trump. Som of his aides wanted the Democrat to drop out, while others had multi-million dollar financial incentive for Biden to win re-election 

The congressional report, which was led by Republicans, also determined that Biden’s executive actions must be reviewed after inconsistencies were discovered with the White House’s use of the president’s autopen to sign official actions, like pardons

He refused to answer whether he was instructed to lie about Biden’s health and if the Democrat was fit to be president. 

The committee alleges that O’Connor did not perform a cognitive assessment on Biden. 

Despite the concern among half of Biden’s camp following the debate, another large group of the Democrats’ inner circle argued the performance was not as bad as the media made it seem. 

When pressed on Biden’s cognitive decline being apparent during the 2024 debate, former Biden aide Steve Ricchetti told the committee: ‘It isn’t how the country perceived it. That just isn’t true.’

Another top Biden aide, Mike Donilon, also downplayed the disastrous debate, telling the panel Biden ‘had pretty good answers. Stylistically, I was worried about his voice.’ 

Donilon disagreed with the idea that the debate ‘produced a substantial change in the horse race.’

Donilon also testified that he had a major financial incentive for Biden staying in the race.

He told the congressional committee that if Biden were re-elected, he would have made a $4 million bonus. 

Joe Biden’s former White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients 

In addition to the intra-White House drama, the report also skewers the former president for his autopen use. 

In total, President Biden issued 149 executive actions during his time as president. It’s unclear, however, which actions, including pardons, were actually signed by Biden’s hand. 

Comparatively, President Donald Trump has already signed 210 Executive orders in 2025, preferring to conduct those signings with a large media presence. Trump signed 220 executive orders during the entirety of his first term.

The report concludes with the GOP lawmakers on the panel calling for a full review by the Department of Justice into each of Biden’s executive actions to determine if it was done properly and with Biden’s knowledge. 

Among the most controversial measures taken via autopen by the former president were the pardons of Dr. Anthony Fauci, California Democrat Sen. Adam Schiff and other members of Congress who served on the January 6th committee.

Biden also pardoned members of his family – James B. Biden, Sara Jones Biden, Valerie Biden Owens, John T. Owens, and Francis W. Biden – on his last full day in office.