During a closed session with the House Oversight Committee, Donilon disclosed insights into Biden’s mental health and ability to lead during his presidency. According to someone familiar with his testimony, Donilon revealed he received $4 million for his role in Biden’s re-election campaign for 2024, with the potential for an additional $4 million if Biden secured victory.
Financial Incentives Under Scrutiny
The testimony sheds light on potential conflicts within Biden’s team concerning key candidacy decisions. Donilon’s financial motivation to support Biden’s re-election emerged even as many voters questioned the president’s capability to serve another term.
While Donilon’s $4 million pay was disclosed in the book “Original Sin,” the opportunity to earn a $4 million bonus was not previously reported, marking his compensation notably higher than other senior campaign staff.
Campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon made $300,000 and went to the campaign at the same time as Donilon.
Dean Phillips, a former Democratic Representative, had labeled Donilon as a main figure pushing Biden to pursue the 2024 race, suggesting that motivations centered around “self-preservation.”
Defending Biden’s Mental Fitness
During his six-hour testimony, Donilon pushed back against claims about Biden’s cognitive decline.
“In my experience, he was a leader actively engaged and managing crucial domestic and international issues,” Donilon stated in a prepared address to investigators.
The longtime aide admitted some shifts in Biden’s demeanor but affirmed the former president’s competence. He acknowledged that Biden’s delivery wasn’t as strong and occasionally included verbal slips. Nevertheless, he emphasized, “Every president shows signs of aging during their term, as did President Biden, yet he also grew in strength and wisdom through the challenges faced.”
Donilon defended the decision-making process that ultimately led to Biden’s withdrawal from the race. Donilon also said he believed that the party overreacted to Biden’s debate performance, according to sources familiar with his testimony.
The aide, who has worked with Biden since 1981, said he “was frustrated and knew it was difficult to get past the visuals of President Biden that people were seeing” but maintained that Democrats and pundits pushed too hard for Biden’s exit from the race.
Autopen Knowledge Denied
When questioned about the controversial use of an autopen machine to sign official documents, Donilon told congressional investigators he had no knowledge of the autopen or its use. The autopen has become a focal point in Republican investigations into how the White House operated during questions about Biden’s fitness.
Donilon is the eighth former Biden administration aide to appear before the House Oversight Committee as part of Chairman James Comer’s probe into Biden’s mental fitness. The investigation continues with other close Biden advisers, including Steve Ricchetti, who also testified Thursday.
The testimony reveals growing tensions within Democratic circles about the financial and political motivations that influenced critical decisions during Biden’s failed reelection effort. Many Biden aides and Democrats across Washington have resented Donilon’s high salary and questioned his navigation of Biden’s failed re-election effort.
The House Oversight Committee’s investigation continues as Republicans seek to build a comprehensive picture of decision-making processes within the Biden White House during the final months of his presidency.
