Mike Donilon, a longtime adviser to former President Joe Biden, told congressional investigators on Thursday that he was promised $8 million for his role in Biden’s 2024 re-election campaign, contingent on a victory.
The disclosure came during a closed-door interview as part of the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into Biden’s cognitive health and allegations of a White House effort to conceal signs of decline during his presidency.
According to a source familiar with the interview who spoke with Fox News, Donilon said he received $4 million for his work during the campaign and was set to earn an additional $4 million had Biden been re-elected.
Donilon was one of several former aides to testify, though some chose to invoke their Fifth Amendment rights.
He told investigators he was unaware of any use of an autopen by Biden—a device some Republicans claim was used to sign pardons and executive orders in the final months of his presidency—and did not recall discussing or witnessing it being used.
Despite acknowledging that Biden aged while in office, Donilon defended his former boss, calling him the most qualified leader for the country during his term.
“I was with President Joe Biden from his first day in office to the last day,” Donilon said in his opening statement. “What I saw, day in and day out, was a leader who was deeply engaged and in command on critical issues, both at home and abroad.”
“Every president shows signs of aging during their time in office, and President Biden was no exception,” he continued. “But he also grew stronger and wiser as a leader, shaped by the challenges he faced. I believed he was the best person to lead the country then, and I still believe that.”
Donilon also dismissed the fallout from Biden’s 2024 debate performance, which played a key role in his eventual decision to end his re-election campaign. Former Vice President Kamala Harris ultimately became the Democratic nominee.
