From Steve Ricchetti’s opening statement today, obtained by Axios: “The Trump Administration’s efforts to taint President Biden’s legacy with baseless assertions about President Biden’s mental health are an obvious attempt to deflect from the chaos of this Administration’s first six months. The Committee’s investigation is part of a concerted effort by the Administration and its Congressional allies to diminish the record of the former President by advancing the false narrative that President Biden was mentally unable to perform his Constitutional duties and that members of his staff usurped the President’s Article II powers…. Let me be clear: At all times during his presidency, I believed that President Biden was fully capable of exercising his Presidential duties and responsibilities, and that he did so. Neither I, nor anyone else, usurped President Biden’s constitutional duties, which he faithfully and fully carried out each and every day.”

Continued: “I am not aware of any effort by any member of the White House staff to usurp the President’s authority to make decisions or to sign important documents without his knowledge. I am not aware of any effort to use the autopen on important documents without the President’s knowledge and consent. I am not aware of any effort to keep important information from the President. Senior White House staff kept the President fully informed so that he could provide direction and make all important decisions. I firmly believe that at all times during my four years in the White House President Biden was fulfilling his constitutional duties. Did he stumble? Occasionally. Make mistakes? Get up on the wrong side of the bed? He did – we all did.”