Anita Dunn, who previously served as a senior advisor to President Joe Biden, reportedly acknowledged that his close advisors dismissed the idea of a cognitive test, according to a source familiar with the matter.
This revelation emerged during Dunn's private testimony before the House Oversight Committee, where she indicated that the test was deemed politically disadvantageous.
As reported by the Daily Caller, Dunn's opening statement, which was leaked to the media, asserted that Biden "remained throughout [her] interactions with him fully engaged." A spokesperson for the House Oversight Committee expressed skepticism, stating, "Its no surprise Anita Dunn is telling the American people not to believe their own eyes, claiming Joe Biden was sharp and fully engaged."
The spokesperson further criticized the leaked statement as indicative of the extreme emeasures Biden's supporters are willing to take to defend his presidency.
Dunn also addressed the decision by Biden's team to forgo a Super Bowl interview, attributing it to revelations from the February 2024 Department of Justice Special Counsel Robert Hur report. In her statement, she maintained that Biden is mentally sharp and fully capable of fulfilling his presidential duties.
"While I observed that President Biden aged physically during his time in office, which is something that happens to every President, he remained throughout my interactions with him fully engaged and clear in his directions and supervision," Dunn stated.
She emphasized Biden's ability to critically evaluate arguments and make informed decisions, asserting that these capabilities remained intact during her tenure at the White House.
Dunn further clarified that she did not witness White House staff making significant decisions without Biden's involvement. "The President made it clear that decisions rested with him, and White House staff brought issues to him for him to decide," she added. Dunn concluded her statement by expressing her belief in Biden's effectiveness as President, highlighting his accomplishments for the American people.
Interestingly, Dunn claimed ignorance of Biden's stutter until it was highlighted by the media in 2020, despite having known him since the 1980s. Her professional background includes serving as a senior advisor to the Biden-Harris campaign, where she played a pivotal role in shaping messaging, debate preparation, and overall strategy, as noted in her Wall Street Journal biography.
Dunn also held the position of senior campaign advisor to President Barack Obama and later became the White House Communications Director during the early phase of his administration.
In related testimony, Bruce Reed, another former top advisor in the Biden White House, attributed Biden's lackluster debate performance to his stutter rather than cognitive decline. Additionally, senior aides Steve Ricchetti and Mike Donilon provided extensive closed-door testimony last week, further contributing to the ongoing scrutiny of Biden's cognitive abilities.
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