Then-President Joe Biden speaks at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., on May 17, 2024. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
He dismissed concerns about Biden's age as a "polling problem," however, and wrote off Americans' concerns about his age and abilities as the product of mainstream media and right-wing critics, according to the first source – similar to previous Biden allies in their closed-door interviews.
The former spokesman also described relatively infrequent interactions with Biden and allegedly said Biden only met with his press team a few times in a year.
"He would see President Biden in person a little over once a month, but this could be anything from travel, going with him to the Hill or just seeing him in the hallway," the first source said.
But a former Biden White House staffer argued that the press secretary and the communications director were the default representatives of the press and communications team for daily meetings with the president.
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Former Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre will be the next ex-aide to appear, slated to be interviewed Sept. 12. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
During his opening statement, obtained by Fox News Digital, Bates defended Biden's fitness for office while criticizing Trump's own actions as president.
"I was proud to support Joe Biden as President because we believe in the same values. In the White House, it was universally understood that Joe Biden was in charge. That is completely consistent with my personal experience with the President," Bates told House investigators, according to another source.
A House Oversight Committee spokesperson blasted Bates as "delusional" and accused his opening statement of leaking to media before he read it in the room.
Fox News Digital reached out to Bates via his public relations firm Wolfpack Strategies, as well as his counsel, for further comment.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/loyal-ex-biden-aide-says-fateful-debate-against-trump-overblown-closed-door-house-grilling