Former Chief of Staff Jeff Zients on Biden's Health and Debate Allegations

Conversations on President Biden's Health and Age

• 💡 Discussions with Annie Thomasini focused on managing President Biden's time for reading and family, and ensuring his public presentation was optimal.
• 📌 Physical accommodations, such as minimizing steps in various settings, were considered to mitigate the risk of stumbles or falls, a topic that had been publicly reported.
• 🧠 Conversations also included considerations for overseas travel, ensuring President Biden had adequate rest and sleep due to time changes and demanding schedules.

Sleep Apnea and Medical Treatments

• 🩺 Jeff Zients testified that he has no recollection of any conversations regarding President Biden receiving Ambien before a debate with Trump.
• ⚠️ He stated that if any medication was administered, it would have been by the President's doctor, Dr. O'Connor, who saw him daily.
• 😴 Zients mentioned awareness of discussions around sleep apnea, noting a public photo that showed equipment related to it.
• 🦠 He also recalled discussions regarding President Biden contracting COVID-19 twice, emphasizing the need for recovery space and White House protocols.

Interactions with White House Staff

• 💬 Karine Jean-Pierre was part of daily senior staff meetings where discussions about the perception of age and managing the President's time occurred.
• ❓ Jean-Pierre did not ask if the President was capable of doing his job, according to Zients' testimony.
• 🗣️ Bill Daley contacted Zients in Spring 2024 to express his view that President Biden should not debate the former President, considering it a difficult setting for him.