Former Biden Official Allegedly Downplayed Biden’s Decline In House Testimony

Steve Ricchetti, former counselor to President Joe Biden, allegedly downplayed concerns over Biden’s cognitive decline in testimony before the House Oversight Committee, a source familiar told the Daily Caller.

Ricchetti followed suit with former chief of staff Ron Klain who sat for multiple hours last week answering the committee’s questions.

Former counselor to the president Steve Ricchetti arriving for his interview with House Oversight Committee investigators in Comer’s Biden probe pic.twitter.com/b983skCYgG

— Liz Elkind (@liz_elkind) July 30, 2025

A source familiar described Ricchetti as coming across “as combative and defensive” in the transcribed interview, frequently filibustering while his attorney often interrupted and asked that questions be rephrased. (RELATED: Inner Circle Of Advisors At Center Of Biden Coverup Will Testify Before House Oversight Republicans)

Ricchetti described himself as one of Biden’s closest confidants, highlighting his 13-year working relationship with the former president, the source told the Caller. He also noted his personal ties to both Jill and Hunter Biden, the source added.

He allegedly affirmed his belief that Biden remained mentally and physically capable of serving in office and could have launched a successful reelection campaign in 2024, according to the source.

Ricchetti acknowledged Biden’s age was viewed as a political liability and said the team was managing it strategically, the source said. Richetti also revealed that filmmaker Steven Spielberg assisted in preparing Biden for his now infamous debate performance, according to the source familiar.

Although Ricchetti said he wasn’t involved in drafting Biden’s former physician Kevin O’Connor’s physical evaluation letters for Biden, he allegedly engaged with senior staff on how those letters would be communicated to the public, the source stated.

Today: Steve Ricchetti
Tomorrow: Mike Donilon

Two more of Biden’s closest aides are lawyered up and sitting down with us for transcribed interviews as our probe into his mental fitness moves forward.

The cover-up isn’t holding. https://t.co/6KEeHm14q9

— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) July 30, 2025

He allegedly downplayed concerns about Biden’s cognitive performance, claiming Biden only makes “common mistakes” that are no more frequent than those he made as vice president, and he even likened them to mistakes Bill Clinton made at age 45, according to the source. (RELATED: Lobbyist And Brother Of Senior Biden Aide Steve Ricchetti Quadruples His Fees From Last Year: REPORT)

Democratic members asked a few questions during the transcribed interview but failed to use all of their allotted time, the source noted.

Their inquiries focused more on topics such as President Donald Trump’s medical history, including whether he had undergone a colonoscopy, the source told the Caller.

Ricchetti served as a longtime aide to Biden before being tapped to serve as counselor in November 2020.

WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 15: Counselor to the President Steve Ricchetti looks out of the presidential limousine as he and U.S. President Joe Biden depart the U.S. Capitol on March 15, 2023 in Washington, DC. Biden joined Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and members of Congress for the traditional St. Patrick’s Day Friends of Ireland luncheon. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)