Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Pardons And Campaign topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Donilon describes White House pardon process, says Biden made clemency decisions; discusses campaign pay and his role in withdrawal decision
Summary
Donilon told the committee pardons were handled by White House counsel who presented cases and that President Biden made the decisions; Donilon also described campaign pay arrangements and said he advised the president to stay before later recommending withdrawal to avoid a divided party.
Michael Donilon told the House Oversight Committee that the White House Counsel's office organized the clemency process: counsel presented the case for and against a pardon, the president heard concerns and then made the decision.
Donilon said he participated in some of those conversations but did not claim a central role in every case. He told the committee that "the president would hear the case, and the president made the decision," and cited his recollection that discussions concerning pardons for figures such as Dr. Anthony Fauci and Gen. Mark Milley followed that process.
On campaign compensation and incentives, Donilon was asked about payment for his 2024 campaign work. In the exchange he first said he was paid "just a little bit short of $1,000,000." Committee counsel then asked about $4,000,000; Donilon later described a potential $4,000,000 bonus that would have been contingent on reelection. Donilon denied that pay influenced his public advice to the president, saying his counsel was based on long experience and political judgment.
On the president's withdrawal: Donilon said he initially advised the president to stay in the race after the debate but that over the weekend of July 20—21 he gave a candid assessment and concluded that remaining in the contest risked a divided party. He said he arrived midday on the 20th and participated in lengthy conversations with the first lady, senior advisers, and the president; Donilon recalled the president made the decision to withdraw on the 21st and that the president's view about party unity was decisive.
Ending: Donilon reiterated that he never saw anyone "usurp the presidency," that he never saw others carry out presidential duties in place of Biden, and that from his vantage point the president was the decision-maker in meetings where Donilon was present.
