Trump Waives Privilege for Biden Aide as Congress Probes President’s Mental Fitness

In a surprising yet strategic move, President Donald Trump waived executive privilege protections for former Biden aide Neera Tanden, allowing her to testify unrestricted before the House Oversight Committee as part of an ongoing investigation into President Joe Biden’s mental decline and the questionable use of autopen signatures for executive actions.

Tanden, who served as Staff Secretary and later Domestic Policy Council Director under Biden, appeared for a closed-door interview on Tuesday. Trump’s deputy counsel, Gary Lawkowski, made it clear in a letter to Tanden that the “extraordinary nature” of the inquiry justified full transparency.

“The President authorizes you to provide unrestricted testimony irrespective of potential privilege,” Lawkowski wrote, making it clear that even executive privilege wouldn’t be used to shield Biden’s former team from scrutiny.

This decision could set a significant precedent, as other top Biden officials Anthony Bernal, Ashley Williams, and Annie Tomasini are also scheduled to testify in the coming weeks. House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY) has also subpoenaed former White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor, as Republicans dig deeper into the web of secrecy surrounding Biden’s cognitive health.

The central questions facing the committee include:

• Did Biden’s inner circle use the autopen to sign legally binding documents without his active participation?

• Were senior officials covering for a president unfit to execute his duties?

• And most importantly, who was truly calling the shots during Biden’s time in office?

Tanden admitted to overseeing autopen use for “certain categories” of documents between 2021 and 2023 but claimed she had no further role after transitioning to her policy position. In her opening statement, she insisted Biden was “in command as President,” yet stopped short of addressing whether he reviewed or authorized all final decisions.

Democrats, predictably, dismissed the hearing. Rep. Wesley Bell (D-MO) called it an “extraordinary waste of time.” But the American people aren’t buying it especially in light of a scathing new book by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson that details Biden’s alarming decline and the apparent efforts by top aides to hide it.

Biden, 82, dropped out of the 2024 race after a humiliating debate collapse, leaving behind serious questions about the legality and legitimacy of executive decisions made during his final year. Senate Republicans are now preparing to launch parallel investigations, while Trump has ordered an inquiry into potential misuse of the autopen and its broader legal implications.

If autopen signatures were used to mask Biden’s cognitive failures, the legality of countless executive orders, pardons, and directives could be up for debate something this country has never faced before.

Biden lashed out in a statement, calling the investigation a “distraction,” but his denials are starting to sound like echoes in an empty room. The public deserves answers and it’s becoming increasingly clear that Trump is determined to deliver them.

Share this article if you believe Americans deserve to know who was really running the country or subscribe to our newsletter for more updates.