Neera Tanden Testifies on Biden's Mental Acuity Amid White House Probe

In a closed-door session with the House Oversight Committee, Neera Tanden, a seasoned Democratic operative and former Biden official, testified on Tuesday about President Biden's mental acuity. Her statements come amid a swirling investigation into whether those closest to the president concealed any decline in his cognitive abilities. Tanden was unequivocal, asserting that during her time in the White House, she saw no reason to question Biden’s command. “He was in charge,” she emphasized, though she made it clear her cooperation with the committee didn’t imply she viewed the probe as a legitimate oversight matter.

Tanden’s political journey is a rollercoaster of ambition and controversy. Nominated by Biden to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), her bid was derailed by a storm of criticism over her past social media outbursts. Her sharp-tongued posts included calling Sen. Susan Collins “the worst” and likening Sen. Ted Cruz to a heartless vampire. She also dubbed Mitch McConnell “Moscow Mitch” and “Voldemort,” a nod to the Harry Potter villain. With over 1,000 tweets scrubbed before her confirmation hearing, the damage was already done, and her nomination was withdrawn. Yet, Biden found a place for her as a senior advisor and later White House staff secretary—roles bypassing Senate approval.

Her testimony also touched on procedural quirks, such as her authorization to direct autopen signatures from 2021 to 2023, a practice inherited from past administrations. Meanwhile, the broader probe into Biden’s inner circle raises questions about who truly held the reins during critical decisions. On the flip side, Tanden didn’t shy away from jabbing at the Trump administration, echoing past narratives like the discredited Steele dossier, which she once hyped as credible, even nicknaming its author “the next James Bond.”

A longtime player in Democratic circles, Tanden’s resume includes stints on Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaigns and a key role in drafting the Affordable Care Act under Obama. She’s also returned to helm the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning think tank she once described as the “central hub of Trump resistance.” With Trump now ordering the Department of Justice to investigate Biden’s autopen use and cognitive concerns, and Biden countering that he alone made decisions, this saga is far from over.