6 Instances Karine Jean-Pierre Insisted Biden Was Sharp. Will She Tell Congress the Same?

The former chief White House spokeswoman repeatedly told the press President Joe Biden was mentally fit to be president. On Friday, she’ll answer some of those same questions before a House panel.

The question is whether Karine Jean-Pierre, who was White House press secretary from May 2022 to the end of Biden’s single term in office, will have the same answers. Though she won’t be sworn in, lying to Congress is a crime under federal statute 18 U.S.C. Section 1001.

She is the latest former Biden official to sit for a transcribed interview with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. 

“The House Oversight Committee has uncovered how the Biden autopen presidency ranks among the greatest scandals in U.S. history,” House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., told The Daily Signal in a statement. “As President Biden declined, his staff abused the autopen to carry out unauthorized executive actions. We are concluding interviews with key Biden aides and will soon report our findings to the American people.”

Here are six examples of what Jean-Pierre told the press and the public about Biden. 

1. ‘Can’t Keep Up’

Appearing for a CNN interview in June 2022, Jean-Pierre suggested the questions about Biden’s fitness for office shouldn’t even be asked. 

“Don, you’re asking me this question. Oh, my gosh, he’s the president of the United States. You know, he—I can’t even keep up with him,” Jean-Pierre told then-CNN host Don Lemon. “We just got back from New Mexico, we just got back from California … just look at the work that he does, and look what he’s, how he’s delivering for the American public.”

She added, “That is not a question that we should be even asking.”

2. Special Counsel Report ‘Does Not Live in Reality’

Special counsel Robert Hur was charged with investigating

Biden’s alleged mishandling of classified documents. He issued a report in February 2024 that said Biden had “diminished faculties” and “a poor memory” and decided not to pursue charges against the then-president because of it.

“The reality is, that report, that part of the report does not live in reality. It just doesn’t, it is gratuitous,” Jean-Pierre said to reporters at the time. “It is unacceptable and it does not live in reality.”

Later that same month, she said Biden passed cognitive tests each day by doing his job. 

“He passes a cognitive test every day, every day as he moves from one topic to another topic, understanding the granular level of these topics,” Jean-Pierre said. 

3. ‘Cheap Fake’

Jean-Pierre argued that videos that seemed to show Biden looking confused were doctored clips or artificial intelligence. 

“It’s also very insulting to the folks, the viewers who are watching it. And so, we believe we have to call that out. We’ve been calling it ‘cheap fakes.’ That is something that came directly from the media outlets in calling it that, the fact-checkers and calling it that,” she said in an MSNBC interview in June 2024. 

“We’re certainly going to be really, really clear about that as well. And calling it out from where we are, from where we stand,” Jean-Pierre continued. “I think there is so much misinformation, disinformation as we’ve been talking about. You talked about the video of the president wandering. And it’s not true. Right? The president wasn’t wandering. … And what you saw is the Republican Party really manipulating what was being said and what was being seen by the American people.”

4. ‘No Cover-up’

In early July 2024, before Biden exited the presidential race for a second term, Jean-Pierre said no one was hiding anything. 

A reporter asked, “Is anyone in the White House hiding information about the president’s health or his ability to do the job day-to-day?” 

Jean-Pierre answered, “Absolutely not.”

Asked if the White House would provide a more thorough health report, she answered, “We have provided—have been very transparent.”

She added, “February was this year. It wasn’t too long ago. … It was indeed this year, and we were—we were—we provided a transparent report, a thorough report.” 

In late July 2024, after Biden dropped out of the presidential race, a reporter asked, “Who ordered White House officials to cover up a declining president?”

Jean-Pierre replied, “First of all, there’s been no cover-up. I want to be very clear about that. I know that that is a narrative that you love.”

Also, at a press briefing in July, a reporter asked, “Why is it in the country’s best interest for him to step aside? Does it have to do with his health?” 

She replied, “It has nothing to do with his health.”

5. ‘Ridiculous Assumption’

In August 2023, Jean-Pierre tackled questions about a book, “The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden’s White House and the Struggle for America’s Future,” by journalist Franklin Foer. 

A reporter said, “The book is suggesting the president tells aides he’s tired.”

She responded, “I mean, that’s a ridiculous assumption to make. I mean, that’s a ridiculous notion to make.”

6. ‘Continues to Prevail’

During a September 2023 press briefing, she took more questions on the Foer book. 

“Look, here’s what I know. Here’s what I can speak to. I can speak to that—a president who has wisdom. I can speak to a president who has experience,” Jean-Pierre said. “I can speak to a president who has done historic—has taken historic action and has delivered in historic pieces of legislation. And that’s important.” 

She added, “The president continues to prevail.”

The post 6 Instances Karine Jean-Pierre Insisted Biden Was Sharp. Will She Tell Congress the Same? appeared first on The Daily Signal.