Former President Joe Biden’s longtime adviser Mike Donilon told congressional investigators Thursday that he was offered $8 million for his assistance in Biden’s 2024 reelection campaign, provided he won.
The revelation was made in a private interview as part of the House Oversight Committee’s inquiry into Biden’s mental state and claims that the White House attempted to hide indications of deterioration when he was president.
Donilon claimed to have received $4 million for his campaign work and was expected to receive an extra $4 million if Biden was re-elected, according to a source familiar with the conversation who spoke to Fox News.
While several former aides choose to use their Fifth Amendment privileges, Donilon was one of few who testified.
He told investigators that he did not remember talking about or seeing Biden use an autopen, which some Republicans say was used to sign executive orders and pardons in the last months of his presidency.
Donilon defended his former boss by claiming that Biden was the best qualified leader for the nation during his tenure, even though he acknowledged that Biden became older while in office.
In his introductory remarks, Donilon stated, “I was with President Joe Biden from his first day in office to his last day.” Every day, I witnessed a leader who was fully involved and in control of important matters both domestically and internationally.
He added that all presidents exhibit aging symptoms while in office, and President Biden was no different. However, the difficulties he encountered also made him a stronger and more astute leader. I still think he was the best candidate to lead the nation back then.
Donilon also downplayed the consequences of Biden’s 2024 debate performance, which was a major factor in his final decision to withdraw from the race for reelection. The Democratic nominee in the end was former Vice President Kamala Harris.
