Original Sin book exposes Biden White House tactics to silence reporting on president’s decline

A newly released book titled “Original Sin” has brought to light former White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates’ role in defending President Joe Biden’s mental acuity. The book alleges that Bates, along with other members of Biden’s inner circle, downplayed concerns about the president’s mental and physical fitness without having a full understanding of his actual condition.

According to authors Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, Bates and his colleagues were often in the dark about the president’s well-being as they rarely had direct interactions with him. Instead, they relied on senior staff for information, with Bates becoming the public face of the White House’s defense of Biden’s cognitive abilities.

The book details an alleged strategy employed by the Biden campaign and White House to attack journalists who raised questions about the president’s age, aiming to shame them and discourage further inquiry. Bates was a key player in this effort, often issuing denials and pushing back against reports suggesting that Biden was struggling mentally.

Despite the book’s portrayal of Bates as a loyal defender of the president, he has dismissed the narrative as distorted and selective. A former White House staffer also came to Bates’ defense, highlighting his role as a senior spokesperson who worked closely with the president on major issues.

One specific incident detailed in the book involved the White House successfully quashing a story about Biden’s alleged decline. Steve Ricchetti, former White House deputy chief of staff, reportedly vehemently denied claims of the president’s cognitive struggles to a journalist, leading her to abandon her reporting.

The book has sparked controversy and criticism from both sides of the political spectrum, with some accusing the media of covering up Biden’s health issues. Others, including Biden’s granddaughter, have dismissed the book as “silly” and politically motivated.

CNN, the network where Tapper works, has faced backlash for promoting the book, especially in light of Biden’s recent cancer diagnosis. Some have questioned the timing and motives behind the book’s release, while others have defended Biden as an effective and empathetic leader.

In response to the allegations in the book, a Biden spokesperson has maintained that there was no cover-up or conspiracy regarding the president’s health and that Biden effectively carried out his duties as president.

Overall, the revelations in “Original Sin” shed light on the complex dynamics within the Biden White House and the challenges of managing public perceptions of the president’s mental acuity. Bates’ role in defending Biden’s cognitive abilities highlights the delicate balance between transparency and political messaging in the highest levels of government.