1:34White House debt limit negotiator Steve Ricchetti exits a House Democrat caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol on May 31, 2023, in Washington, DC.Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Steve Ricchetti, who acted as an advisor to former President Joe Biden, participated in a confidential session with the Republican-led House Oversight Committee on Wednesday, as its chairman, Republican Rep. James Comer, continues the inquiry into the former president’s mental competency during his time in office.
Ricchetti attended the session voluntarily. The committee did not issue a subpoena for him to testify.
White House debt limit negotiator Steve Ricchetti departs from a House Democrat caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol on May 31, 2023, in Washington, DC.Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
The questioning concluded after over eight hours. Ricchetti did not respond to inquiries from reporters as he departed.
The House committee has sought interviews with various former Biden officials as part of their investigation into the prior president’s mental abilities while serving in office. Ricchetti is the most recent among several former officials from the Biden administration to appear before the committee.
Last week, former Chief of Staff Ron Klain engaged with the committee for several hours.
President Joe Biden speaks alongside Steve Ricchetti (R), Counselor to the President, during a meeting with union and business leaders about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC, July 22, 2021.Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Nevertheless, several other aides have declined to cooperate with the committee and have invoked the Fifth Amendment, including Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the former physician to Joe Biden, and Annie Tomasini, who was the deputy chief of staff to Biden.
Biden himself dismissed claims of cognitive decline during an appearance on ABC’s “The View” in early May.
"They are mistaken. There’s no evidence to support that," Biden stated at that time.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
