House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has revealed that Ian Sams, the former White House spokesperson for President Joe Biden, only met with the president in person twice during his tenure, despite publicly defending Biden’s mental fitness. Comer, who has been leading the committee’s closed-door interviews with individuals involved in recent investigations, criticized Sams for making bold public claims about Biden’s cognitive condition based on limited interactions. This comes as the committee continues its probe into whether Biden’s inner circle may have concealed signs of mental decline and whether executive decisions were made without his full knowledge or approval.
Comer’s comments were part of his post-interview statement following the meeting with Sams, who served as a top spokesperson during the latter two years of the Biden administration. Despite being one of the president’s staunchest defenders, Sams only had two in-person meetings with Biden during his time in the administration. Comer highlighted that Sams interacted with Biden on four occasions in total—two in-person meetings, one virtual meeting, and one phone call. This limited contact, however, did not deter Sams from publicly asserting that Biden was mentally fit and capable of leading the country.
The former White House spokesperson has been a key figure in defending Biden against allegations of misconduct, including his ties to family members’ foreign business interests and his handling of classified documents in the wake of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s investigation. Sams was particularly vocal in criticizing Hur’s findings, which did not result in charges against Biden, as the special counsel noted that the former president would likely present himself as a sympathetic and well-meaning individual in a trial. Despite these statements, Comer argues that Sams lacked the direct insight to make such claims about Biden’s cognitive abilities.
Comer’s critique was directed at both Sams and the broader administration, suggesting that while Sams defended Biden’s mental fitness, the president’s inner circle may have been responsible for making key decisions. This aligns with ongoing investigations that have raised questions about whether Biden’s decisions, such as the thousands of clemency orders signed via autopen, were made with his full awareness or approval. Comer emphasized that the committee’s work is intended to ensure transparency for the American public and to uncover any potential misconduct related to Biden’s executive actions.
Sams has been vocal in responding to criticism, including by sending a letter to the White House Correspondents’ Association to challenge media coverage of the Hur report. He has also defended Biden’s cognitive abilities by stating that the president was