A new tell-all book alleges longtime Biden associates quietly made major decisions behind closed doors—sometimes without even consulting key Cabinet secretaries.
According to Daily Mail Online, the revelations come from Jake Tapper’s latest book, “Original Sin,” which draws on more than 200 interviews and uncovers a secretive inner circle, dubbed the “politburo,” that allegedly took the reins as the president’s cognitive health deteriorated.
The book names Donilon, Ricchetti, and Reed as the core trio, with Klain and Annie Tomasini also playing significant roles at times. The author claims even Biden’s wife, Dr. Jill Biden, and his son Hunter were ever-present influences, raising new questions about who was truly in charge during the Biden years.
At the heart of Tapper’s account is a portrait of power concentrated in a handful of hands. These insiders, veterans of Democratic politics and close Biden allies, reportedly made sweeping decisions about the nation’s direction, often without input from the president’s own Cabinet. According to Tapper and his co-author Alex Thompson, one insider told them, “Five people were running the country, and Joe Biden was at best a senior member of the board.”
The book paints Bruce Reed as the “real domestic policy adviser,” Mike Donilon as the “actual political director,” and Steve Ricchetti as the force behind legislative affairs. Ron Klain, who served as Biden’s chief of staff, is described as wielding influence over virtually every White House matter. The group allegedly bypassed official channels and even key officials when major economic calls were made, sidelining figures like Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
Aides and critics alike are depicted as alarmed by this closed-circle approach. One unnamed source told the authors, “I’ve never seen a situation like this before, with so few people having so much power. They would make huge economic decisions without calling Secretary Yellen.”
Adding further intrigue, the book claims that both Jill and Hunter Biden were “prominent and permanent fixtures” within the president’s circle of trust. Hunter’s involvement, in particular, is described as outsized and controversial, with Tapper remarking in interviews that “Hunter was driving the decision-making for the family in a way that people—he was almost like a chief of staff of the family.”
Tapper doesn’t mince words about Hunter’s reputation, either. He describes Hunter as “provably demonstrably unethical, sleazy, and prone to horrible decisions,” referencing scandals and personal problems that have dogged the president’s son. Despite this baggage, Hunter’s presence in high-level family and political decisions apparently remained undiminished, even as some aides blamed him for Biden’s “rapid deterioration.”
Tapper said, “It’s bizarre because I think he is provably demonstrably unethical, sleazy, and prone to horrible decisions. After his brother died, he cheated on his wife with his brother’s widow and then got her addicted to crack.”
Jill Biden, meanwhile, is portrayed as fiercely protective of her husband and a crucial voice in the inner circle. The book claims her role was so central that aides sometimes deferred to her judgment over other staffers.
The book’s allegations have already sparked debate about transparency and proper governance. The group’s nickname, “politburo” (a term usually reserved for communist party leadership), has fueled concerns about unchecked power and lack of accountability in the Biden administration’s highest ranks.
Congressional Republicans have taken notice. House Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer recently attempted to subpoena three key aides, including Annie Tomasini, only to be thwarted by what he called White House “obstruction.” The committee’s investigation focused on the use of the president’s autopen and other issues tied to the aides’ influence.
Some Democrats and former President Barack Obama himself reportedly worried about the “hangers-on” in Biden’s close circle, a subtle jab at the tight-knit nature of the group. The controversy underscores long-running tensions between Biden’s loyalists and the wider Democratic establishment.
The book’s claims have arrived at a critical time, reigniting questions about the president’s capacity and who truly set the agenda in the White House during his term. For critics, the account is further evidence that a handful of unelected staffers and family members were running the show while the president’s health was in decline.
Mike Donilon, Steve Ricchetti, Bruce Reed, Ron Klain, Jill Biden, and Hunter Biden now face intensifying scrutiny, with observers demanding answers about decision-making and transparency at the highest levels of government. The White House has yet to respond directly to many of the book’s most pointed allegations.
