Michael Donilon, a senior advisor to former President Joe Biden and longtime ally, is set to appear before House Oversight Committee investigators for a closed-door transcribed interview. This marks the eighth ex-White House aide summoned for the probe into whether Biden’s top advisors concealed signs of mental decline in the former president. Comer, R-Ky., is investigating whether Biden’s top White House aides concealed signs of mental decline in the then-president, and if that meant executive actions were signed via autopen without his knowledge.
Donilon, who served as senior advisor to the president for the entirety of Biden’s four-year term, is expected to sit down with House Oversight Committee staff for a closed-door transcribed interview that could last several hours. His long-standing relationship with Biden, which began in 1981, has made him a key figure in the investigation. Donilon first worked with Biden as a strategist, pollster, and media advisor, and he played a central role in Biden’s 2020 and 2024 campaigns before Biden dropped his re-election bid in July 2024.
The probe is part of a broader investigation into potential cover-ups of Biden’s cognitive decline. Comer’s letter to Donilon highlighted the importance of the former president’s condition and the necessity of examining both official and personal interactions within the Oval Office. The committee is looking into whether White House staff may have carried out a strategy to hide the chief executive’s condition or to perform his duties, which could lead to legislative action.
The investigation has already seen several high-profile figures testify, including ex-counselor to the president Steve Ricchetti, who appeared before investigators on Wednesday. Like Ricchetti, Donilon is appearing voluntarily, and four previous voluntary transcribed interviews have lasted over five hours, with staff from both parties taking turns in questioning. The committee’s probe continues to gain momentum as more former aides are summoned to provide insights into the former president’s state of mind and any potential cover-ups.