Two more senior aides who were longtime members of Joe Biden’s inner circle will take questions from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee this coming week.
On Monday, Bruce Reed, former deputy chief of staff for policy in the Biden White House will sit down for a transcribed interview with House investigators.
Reed was part of Biden’s “politburo,” according to the book “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again” by reporters Alex Thompson and Jake Tapper. The politburo was a group that sought to hide Biden’s cognitive decline, according to the book.
Then on Wednesday, Anita Dunn, former senior adviser to the president for communications, will field questions. Though not part of the so-called politburo, Dunn has been closely tied to Biden for years.
When Biden was vice president under Barack Obama, Reed was his chief of staff. Reed is also the former CEO of the Democratic Leadership Council, a group that purports to promote centrist Democratic Party policies. He also served in roles in the Bill Clinton White House, including director of the Domestic Policy Council.
Dunn was in the Biden White House in the first year then returned from 2022 through the summer of 2024. She was formerly the Obama White House acting communications director. That job was cut short after Dunn seemingly praised former Chinese dictator Mao Zedong. She said Mao and Mother Teresa were her favorite political philosophers.
Anthony Bernal, former senior adviser to first lady Jill Biden, invoked his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination at his appearance before the committee on July 16 and did not answer questions.
House Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., also subpoenaed Biden’s White House physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, to appear for a deposition. O’Connor appeared on July 9 and also pleaded the Fifth.
Others — like Reed and Dunn — agreed voluntarily to appear for transcribed interviews.
On July 24, Biden’s first chief of staff as president, Ronald Klain, appeared before the committee.
Two other members of the so-called politburo also voluntarily appeared: Steve Ricchetti, former counselor to the president; and Mike Donilon, former senior adviser to Biden.
