2:02Anita Dunn, senior adviser to President Joe Biden, departs the White House, Jan. 23, 2024, in Washington, D.C. Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Anita Dunn, who served as a senior adviser to former President Joe Biden, defended him during a five-hour closed-session deposition at the House Oversight Committee on Thursday.
Dunn informed investigators that while she noticed a "physical" deterioration in Biden throughout his four-year term, she still believed he was making the decisions and remained mentally engaged in the policymaking at the White House.
Anita Dunn, senior adviser to President Joe Biden, departs the White House, Jan. 23, 2024, in Washington, D.C.Drew Angerer/Getty Images
"Based on my experiences and observations at the White House, President Biden made all of the significant decisions that one would expect from the President of the United States," she stated to the committee, according to her prepared remarks obtained by ABC News.
Dunn declined to respond to any inquiries from journalists as she arrived and subsequently left the deposition.
However, her statement suggests she believes Biden was capable of serving and that West Wing staff did not infringe upon his authority.
"I did not witness White House staff making critical decisions or exercising presidential powers without President Biden's awareness or approval," Dunn testified, according to the prepared remarks. "The President made it evident that decisions were his responsibility, and White House staff presented matters to him for his determination."
Her comments continued, "Prior to scheduling a press interview or issuing statements in his name, we sought his consent, and he was actively involved in the preparation of his speeches and public remarks. While I observed that President Biden aged physically during his time in office, which is a natural process for every President, he remained fully engaged and clear in his directives and oversight throughout my interactions with him. His ability to analyze, identify weaknesses in arguments, and make well-informed decisions did not diminish during my tenure in the White House."
Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden and Anita Dunn center, depart The Queen theatre in Wilmington, Del., Oct. 19, 2020.Carolyn Kaster/AP
House Republicans responded to Dunn's closed-door interview, stating that she "revealed" that Biden's "inner circle" opted against a cognitive evaluation, concluding it would yield no political advantages, according to a source familiar with her testimony shared with ABC News.
Dunn confirmed that President Biden's team made the decision to forgo a 2024 Super Bowl interview due to details in special counsel Robert Hur's report, which examined Biden's handling of sensitive documents and raised questions about his mental acuity.
She is the most recent Biden official to respond to inquiries after several former senior officials invoked their Fifth Amendment rights to decline to answer questions.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
