Former Biden aide Andrew Bates testified before the House Oversight Committee on September 5, 2025, defending President Biden’s mental acuity and criticizing the Republican investigation as politically motivated. Bates, who served as deputy assistant to the president, appeared in a closed-door interview where he asserted that Biden was fully engaged and in charge during his presidency, despite infrequent personal interactions.
Bates detailed that he interacted with President Biden in person approximately once a month, through various occasions such as travel, visits to Capitol Hill, or casual hallway encounters. He emphasized that these interactions were meaningful and sufficient to assess Biden’s cognitive abilities, though he acknowledged that formal meetings with the press team were rare, occurring only a couple of times a year. This frequency, he argued, did not indicate any lack of presidential oversight or capability.
Regarding the 2024 election, Bates expressed confidence that Biden could have secured re-election but ultimately supported his decision to withdraw from the race. He attributed the withdrawal to negative polling trends exacerbated by a poor debate performance and public perceptions of age, rather than any genuine cognitive decline or incapacity. Bates stated that after processing the data and political climate, he agreed with Biden’s choice, viewing it as a strategic move rather than an admission of unfitness.
The testimony is part of a broader House investigation led by Chairman James Comer into allegations that Biden’s aides concealed his mental decline and improperly used the autopen device for executive actions, including mass clemency decisions. Republicans argue this may have usurped presidential powers, with Bates being the eleventh former official interviewed in this probe. The investigation focuses on whether staff shielded Biden from scrutiny and outsourced decisions without his full awareness.
Bates criticized the committee’s focus, accusing Republicans of overlooking potential conflicts in the Trump administration, such as Trump’s acceptance of a $400 million jet from Qatar and alleged attempts to influence the Federal Reserve. He defended Biden’s integrity, particularly in matters related to his son Hunter’s business dealings, stating that the president conducted himself honorably at all times and did not abuse his power for personal gain.
Republicans on the committee countered Bates’s assertions, labeling him as part of a “cognitive decline cover-up” and pointing to the sparse interactions as evidence of Biden’s insulation from decision-making. A committee spokesperson called Bates “delusional” and argued that his testimony failed to address concerns about the autopen’s use for pardons, which they claim could have released violent offenders without proper presidential review.
The investigation is ongoing, with scheduled testimonies from other key figures like former chief of staff Jeff Zients and press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. These proceedings aim to shed light on the extent of staff involvement in presidential duties and whether there was any misconduct. Chairman Comer plans to release a report compiling the findings, which could influence public understanding of Biden’s presidency and future political narratives.
Overall, the testimony highlights deep partisan divides over Biden’s mental fitness and the legitimacy of congressional investigations, with potential long-term effects on how executive power and transparency are perceived in American politics. The outcomes may set precedents for oversight and accountability in future administrations.