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Time of India
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Who is Neera Tanden? Biden aide admits approving autopen signatures without knowing who cleared them
Neera Tanden , who used to work closely with President Joe Biden, told Congress that she was allowed to approve autopen signatures on important documents. But she admitted she didn't know exactly who was giving her the final okay. The investigation centered around the fact that a frailing Biden was taking all the major calls, or whether others in the White House and his circle were doing it for him. Neera Tandon, former Director of the Domestic Policy Council and a former senior staff advisor, was summoned by the House Oversight Committee in Capitol Hill in a closed door meeting, with no media persons allowed in, as per Fox News report. Her testimony lasted for over five hours. She answered questions from both Republican and Democrat staff. Congress is investigating how much President Biden is personally involved in major decisions. They're especially looking into whether others have been using something called the autopen to sign things for him, as per the reports. The autopen is a machine that signs the president's name on papers — like memos, letters, and even pardons — when someone gives it the go-ahead. Tanden said she was authorized to send orders for using the autopen on behalf of President Biden. She would send 'decision memos' to other top people in the White House, as per Fox News report. ALSO READ: $400 million case crumbles, but Justin Baldoni isn't done yet — new shock move keeps legal drama alive Live Events Tanden didn't know who gave final OK But she admitted that she did not know who was actually making the final decision to approve those autopen signatures. She just sent the memo and got it back later with approval. This means she helped carry out the autopen orders but wasn't sure who exactly told her it was okay to move forward. Tanden also said she had limited personal contact with Biden. She didn't talk to him much directly. Lawmakers asked her if she ever spoke with anyone about Biden's health or mental ability to do the job — especially after a bad debate performance in summer 2023. She was asked about many officials and said 'no' to all of them, according to a Fox News report. More Biden team members will testify She didn't speak to the press when she arrived at the Capitol that morning. But after the interview, she did talk briefly to reporters. She said she answered every single question and was happy to talk about her time in public service. She called the process 'thorough' and said she was glad she took part. When someone asked her directly if the White House tried to hide Biden's health condition, she replied, 'Absolutely not.' More people from the Biden team will also be talking to the Oversight Committee. The next big name is Dr. Kevin O'Connor, Biden's former White House doctor, as per the reports. He has been subpoenaed to give a deposition. Other senior aides set to testify include Anthony Bernal, senior advisor to First Lady Jill Biden, Annie Tomasini, Biden's former deputy chief of staff, and Ashley Williams, who helped manage Oval Office operations, as stated by Fox News report. FAQs Q1. Who is Neera Tanden? Neera Tanden is a former top aide to President Joe Biden. She worked as the Director of the Domestic Policy Council and senior advisor from 2021 to 2023. Q2. What is the autopen signature? The autopen is a machine that automatically signs documents for the president, like memos and pardons, when authorized by White House staff.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Top Biden aide admits to Congress she directed autopen signatures without knowing who gave final approval
A former top aide to President Joe Biden said she was authorized to direct autopen signatures but was unaware of who in the president's inner circle was giving her final clearance, according to a source familiar with the aide's closed-door testimony in front of Congress Tuesday. Neera Tanden, the former director of Biden's Domestic Policy Council, testified for hours Tuesday during an interview in front of the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating the former president's mental acuity and his use of an automatic signature tool that allowed aides to sign pardons, memos and other important documents on Biden's behalf. During Tanden's interview before Congress, which lasted more than five hours, she told lawmakers that, in her role as staff secretary and senior advisor to the former president between 2021 and 2023, she was authorized to direct autopen signatures on behalf of Biden, an Oversight Committee official told Fox News. The system of approval used, according to Tanden's testimony relayed to Fox News, was inherited from previous administrations. Who Is Neera Tanden? The Controversial Dem Operative Who Testified On Biden's Mental Acuity But Tanden, who said she had limited interactions with Biden, described an approval process that left her in the dark about who specifically was giving final approval on the decisions to use the automatic signature tool, sources told Fox News. Tanden testified that to get approval for the use of autopen signatures she would send decision memos to members of Biden's inner circle. However, she added that she was not aware of what actions or approvals took place between the time she sent the decision memo and the time she received it back with the necessary approval. Read On The Fox News App When Tanden was asked whether she ever discussed Biden's health or his fitness to serve as president during her time as a top aide, including during the period of the former president's widely criticized debate performance last summer, Tanden said she did not. Lawmakers laid out a list of names of officials she could have potentially discussed it with, and Tanden said "no" to each name, according to a source familiar with her closed-door testimony. Biden Insists 'I Made The Decisions' As Republicans Investigate White House Autopen Use Tanden did not speak to reporters on the way to the Capitol Tuesday morning. Upon exiting, she expressed her willingness to cooperate with the ongoing investigation. "I just spoke with the House Oversight Committee, Majority and Minority Council. I answered every question, was pleased to discuss my public service and it was a thorough process. And I'm glad I answered everyone's question," Tanden told reporters. When subsequently asked whether there was any effort to hide Biden's condition, Tanden replied, "Absolutely not." In addition to Tanden, Biden's former White House physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, will appear for a deposition in front of House Oversight lawmakers after being subpoenaed by Republicans. In addition to O'Connor and Tanden, the Oversight Committee plans to hear from Anthony Bernal, who served as a senior advisor to former first lady Jill Biden; Annie Tomasini, who was Biden's former deputy chief of staff; and Ashley Williams, who was the former deputy director of Oval Office operations under Biden. Oversight Republicans are also seeking interviews with officials who were some of Biden's closest confidants, including former chief of staff Ron Klain and Anita Dunn, a former senior advisor to the president for article source: Top Biden aide admits to Congress she directed autopen signatures without knowing who gave final approval
Fox News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Top Biden aide admits to Congress she directed autopen signatures without knowing who gave final approval
A former top aide to President Joe Biden said she was authorized to direct autopen signatures but was unaware of who in the president's inner circle was giving her final clearance, according to a source familiar with the aide's closed-door testimony in front of Congress Tuesday. Neera Tanden, the former director of Biden's Domestic Policy Council, testified for hours Tuesday during an interview in front of the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating the former president's mental acuity and his use of an automatic signature tool that allowed aides to sign pardons, memos and other important documents on Biden's behalf. During Tanden's interview before Congress, which lasted more than five hours, she told lawmakers that, in her role as staff secretary and senior advisor to the former president between 2021 and 2023, she was authorized to direct autopen signatures on behalf of Biden, an Oversight Committee official told Fox News. The system of approval used, according to Tanden's testimony relayed to Fox News, was inherited from previous administrations. But Tanden, who said she had limited interactions with Biden, described an approval process that left her in the dark about who specifically was giving final approval on the decisions to use the automatic signature tool, sources told Fox News. Tanden testified that to get approval for the use of autopen signatures she would send decision memos to members of Biden's inner circle. However, she added that she was not aware of what actions or approvals took place between the time she sent the decision memo and the time she received it back with the necessary approval. When Tanden was asked whether she ever discussed Biden's health or his fitness to serve as president during her time as a top aide, including during the period of the former president's widely criticized debate performance last summer, Tanden said she did not. Lawmakers laid out a list of names of officials she could have potentially discussed it with, and Tanden said "no" to each name, according to a source familiar with her closed-door testimony. Tanden did not speak to reporters on the way to the Capitol Tuesday morning. Upon exiting, she expressed her willingness to cooperate with the ongoing investigation. "I just spoke with the House Oversight Committee, Majority and Minority Council. I answered every question, was pleased to discuss my public service and it was a thorough process. And I'm glad I answered everyone's question," Tanden told reporters. When subsequently asked whether there was any effort to hide Biden's condition, Tanden replied, "Absolutely not." In addition to Tanden, Biden's former White House physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, will appear for a deposition in front of House Oversight lawmakers after being subpoenaed by Republicans. In addition to O'Connor and Tanden, the Oversight Committee plans to hear from Anthony Bernal, who served as a senior advisor to former first lady Jill Biden; Annie Tomasini, who was Biden's former deputy chief of staff; and Ashley Williams, who was the former deputy director of Oval Office operations under Biden. Oversight Republicans are also seeking interviews with officials who were some of Biden's closest confidants, including former chief of staff Ron Klain and Anita Dunn, a former senior advisor to the president for communications.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Top Biden officials summoned to testify about alleged cover-up of former president's mental fitness
The House Oversight Committee is hearing from two top former Biden administration aides this week as Republicans continue to probe allegations that ex-President Joe Biden's top lieutenants covered up the former leader's mental decline while in office. Former Domestic Policy Council Director Neera Tanden will meet with the committee on Tuesday, and former Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor to the First Lady Anthony Bernthal will meet with the committee on Thursday. Trump Nominated For Nobel Peace Prize Over Iran-israel Ceasefire Deal The committee also has interviews scheduled with former administration officials Annie Tomasini and Ashley Williams, while seeking interviews with several officials in the Biden inner circle, including former Chief of Staff Ron Klain and former Senior Advisor to the President for Communications Anita Dunn. Biden's former doctor, Kevin O'Connor, will sit down with House investigators in July. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., is probing whether those closest to Biden in his White House knowingly colluded to hide the former president's declining mental acuity and used methods to circumvent the former president when it came to the issuance of important orders. Read On The Fox News App House Gop Secures Four Key Witnesses In Biden Mental-decline Probe As Former Aides Agree To Talk President Donald Trump also ordered the Department of Justice to open an investigation into the matter. The president directed Attorney General Pam Bondi and White House counsel David Warrington to handle the investigation. In response to the Trump administration's call for an investigation, Biden declared he was the only one who "made the decisions" during his presidency and called Trump's efforts a "distraction." Among the questions House investigators are expected to have is whether any Biden officials used the autopen to authorize executive actions without the president's permission. The sit-downs are behind closed doors, as opposed to public congressional hearings. The interviews will be transcribed and likely released at a later date. Comer previously told Fox News Digital that the more muted setting of a closed-door interview would allow House lawmakers to get more key information, as opposed to the public spectacle of a hearing. "I've studied history, there's never been a committee hearing that did what it's supposed to do," Comer said. "But these depositions and interviews, do. You've got one hour, you're not interrupted, you don't have to go five minutes back and forth. So to extract information, we're going to go with the interviews. We could have a hearing later on, but right now, I think we can get more done quicker with interviews."Original article source: Top Biden officials summoned to testify about alleged cover-up of former president's mental fitness
24-06-2025
- Politics
Former aide Tanden appears before House committee investigating Biden's mental acuity
The House Oversight Committee's first closed-door transcribed meeting investigating former President Joe Biden's mental acuity began Tuesday with former White House Domestic Policy Council Director Neera Tanden appearing for questioning on Capitol Hill. Committee Chairman James Comer is investigating Biden's health and mental 'decline," as well as the use of an autopen for pardons and other executive actions. 'This is the first of what will be many interviews with people we believe were involved in the autopen scandal in the Biden administration,' Comer told reporters Tuesday morning. 'I think the American people want to know, I think there's a huge level of curiosity in the press corps [with] respect to who was actually calling the shots in the Biden administration.' Following the introductory portion of the meeting, Comer said Republicans wrapped a 'good hour,' while Rep. Wesley Bell, D-Mo., called it an 'extraordinary waste of time.' Tanden was nominated by Biden to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget but ultimately withdrew her nomination after facing a bruising confirmation battle and bipartisan criticism over her past tweets that attacked members of Congress. In addition to Tanden, additional former Biden senior aides are expected to sit down for interviews in the coming weeks without being subpoenaed, including Anthony Bernal, Ashley Williams and Annie Tomasini. Dr. Kevin O'Connor, the former White House physician for Biden, will appear under subpoena before the committee for a closed, transcribed interview on July 9, a source familiar with the committee's plans told ABC News.
