Mike Donilon, a longtime Joe Biden confidant, swore he knew nothing about an autopen while testifying before Congress, as the Daily Caller reports, but his claim smells fishier than a forgotten campaign promise.

On July 31, Donilon faced the House Oversight Committee as part of an investigation into former President Biden’s mental fitness and the administration’s use of an autopen for signing documents. The probe, led by chair James Comer, sought to uncover whether Biden’s team concealed cognitive concerns or relied on mechanical signatures to mask them.

Donilon, who has been glued to Biden since 1981, served as a pollster, strategist, and media guru through Biden’s Senate years and presidential campaigns. His fingerprints are all over Biden’s 2020 and 2024 runs, handling strategy, messaging, and speechwriting. Yet, he wants us to believe he’s clueless about an autopen?

Longtime advisor under fire

Donilon’s testimony came under sharp scrutiny, especially given his deep ties to Biden’s inner circle. He stood to pocket up to $8 million from the 2024 campaign, with half already paid and the rest riding on a Biden victory. That kind of cash makes “no knowledge” sound like a convenient dodge.

Former Democrat Rep. Dean Phillips didn’t mince words, calling Donilon one of the “ringleaders” pushing Biden’s 2024 candidacy. “Ringleaders,” Phillips said, hinting at motives rooted in “self-preservation.” Sounds like Donilon’s loyalty might be to his paycheck as much as to his boss.

Donilon admitted Biden had moments of “diminished presence” and verbal stumbles but brushed off concerns about the former president’s debate performances. His downplaying of Biden’s cognitive health raised eyebrows, especially when paired with his autopen ignorance. If you’re steering the ship, shouldn’t you know how the captain’s signature gets slapped on?

Other aides dodge questions

Donilon wasn’t alone in the hot seat in recent days. Steve Ricchetti, another Biden aide, also testified and echoed Donilon’s dismissal of cognitive concerns. The synchronized talking points make you wonder if they rehearsed in the same spin room.

The week before, former Biden chief of staff Ron Klain faced similar questions from the committee. His testimony set the stage for Donilon and Ricchetti, but details remain murky, leaving more questions than answers. The pattern of vague responses feels like a strategy, not a coincidence.

Adding to the intrigue, several close Biden associates recently clammed up. Former White House physician Kevin O’Connor, Jill Biden’s ex-chief of staff Anthony Bernal, and former aide Annie Tomasini all invoked the Fifth Amendment before the committee. When your inner circle pleads silence, it’s hard to argue that everything is above board.

Financial stakes raise doubts

Donilon’s potential $8 million haul from the 2024 campaign looms large. Half paid upfront, the other half dangling like a carrot for a Biden win, gives him plenty of reason to keep the train on the tracks. Loyalty is one thing, but that kind of money can blur the lines between duty and self-interest.

Phillips’ jab about “self-preservation” cuts deeper when you consider Donilon’s long history with Biden. Since 1981, he’s been a fixture, shaping campaigns and crafting messages. If anyone knew the inner workings of Biden’s operation, it’s Donilon, making his autopen denial harder to swallow.

The autopen itself isn’t the scandal; it’s what it might hide. An administration using a machine to sign documents could signal a leader too disengaged to govern -- or a team too eager to cover it up. Donilon’s claim of ignorance doesn’t just strain credulity; it insults it.

Committee probes deeper concerns

Comer’s investigation isn’t just about mechanical signatures; it’s about whether Biden’s team misled the public about his fitness to lead. Donilon’s testimony, alongside Ricchetti’s, suggests a coordinated effort to downplay red flags. But stonewalling Congress only fuels suspicion.

The invocation of the Fifth by O’Connor, Bernal, and Tomasini adds a layer of distrust. If there’s nothing to hide, why the legal shield? The public deserves answers, not a masterclass in evasion.

Donilon’s role as a “ringleader,” as Phillips put it, paints a picture of a loyalist more concerned with campaign optics than transparency. His $8 million stake and decades-long ties to Biden suggest he’s not just a bystander. This isn’t about woke agendas -- it’s about accountability, and Donilon’s answers don’t add up.