A newly released video from the House Oversight Committee has ignited a political firestorm in Washington, after longtime Biden adviser Mike Donilon acknowledged under oath that he was promised a $4 million bonus if then-President Joe Biden secured reelection in 2024.
The revelation, part of a closed-door deposition made public by committee chair Rep. James Comer (R-KY), appears to confirm reports that senior aides may have had significant financial incentives tied directly to Biden’s electoral success.
The footage, released Tuesday, shows Donilon hesitating before answering questions about his compensation arrangement. Lawmakers say the exchange raises serious ethical questions about whether senior staff members were motivated to conceal concerns about Biden’s health in the lead-up to the 2024 election.
The Exchange That Sparked the Controversy
The video shows a tense back-and-forth between congressional investigators and Donilon, who served as one of Biden’s closest advisers for more than a decade.
“Would you have received a bonus depending on the way the campaign went?” one investigator asked.
Donilon paused before responding, “Yes, there was.”
“And what were those circumstances?” the investigator continued.
“That Joe Biden would have been reelected President of the United States,” Donilon said after several seconds of silence.
When pressed on the amount, Donilon replied, “Um, I believe it would have been $4 million.”
The exchange was part of the committee’s broader investigation into what members have dubbed the “autopen scandal” — a reference to allegations that Biden’s staffers used automatic signature machines for official correspondence during the late stages of his presidency, raising questions about his ability to perform his duties.
House Republicans Say It’s “A Smoking Gun”
Chairman Comer described Donilon’s testimony as “a smoking gun,” claiming it demonstrates a clear conflict of interest among top Biden aides.
“Mike Donilon admitted under oath that he stood to make millions if Joe Biden could hold it together long enough to win reelection,” Comer said in a statement. “That incentive structure alone casts doubt on every public assurance we were given about the president’s health and cognitive fitness.”
Comer and other Republicans on the committee argue that the testimony provides motive for what they describe as “a coordinated effort” to hide signs of Biden’s physical and mental decline during the 2024 campaign.
They’ve called on the Department of Justice to expand its ongoing inquiry into potential obstruction and financial misconduct related to Biden’s campaign and White House staff.
Who Is Mike Donilon?
Donilon has long been considered one of Biden’s most trusted advisers — part strategist, part confidant. He first joined Biden’s political circle during his vice presidency, helping craft the messaging that shaped both the 2020 and 2024 campaigns.
Inside the West Wing, Donilon was often described as the president’s “emotional compass,” someone who understood Biden’s instincts and political tone better than anyone else. He played a central role in framing Biden’s public image as a seasoned statesman capable of empathy and steadiness in turbulent times.
But internal communications obtained by the Oversight Committee show that Donilon remained a key player behind the scenes even as Biden’s public appearances became less frequent in 2023 and 2024. Emails and memos cited by investigators indicate that Donilon was heavily involved in preparing statements, coordinating media strategy, and managing the president’s limited campaign schedule.
Allegations of Concealment
Whistleblowers had previously told congressional investigators that senior officials around Biden deliberately limited his exposure to press conferences and public events during the final months of his term.
Some even alleged that decisions about which events the president would attend — and which statements would be signed — were made by a tight inner circle, including Donilon.
Republican members of the committee now argue that the financial arrangement disclosed by Donilon gives new weight to those claims. “If senior advisers knew they could personally profit from keeping Biden’s decline under wraps, that’s a massive breach of public trust,” Comer said.
Democrats Push Back
Democrats on the Oversight Committee, however, dismissed the claims as politically motivated and lacking substantive evidence.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), the committee’s ranking member, said that bonuses tied to campaign outcomes are not unprecedented in high-level political consulting. “Performance bonuses are common in both parties, especially in campaigns that hinge on complex national operations,” Raskin said. “There’s no evidence of illegality here — only of partisans trying to sensationalize routine compensation structures.”
A spokesperson for Donilon also defended the adviser’s conduct, saying his work was “fully transparent and disclosed in compliance with all federal ethics regulations.”
“Mr. Donilon has spent his career in public service and campaign strategy,” the statement said. “Any suggestion that he concealed the president’s health or acted inappropriately is false and politically driven.”
A Broader Investigation
The Oversight Committee’s probe into Biden’s final year in office has widened in recent months. Lawmakers have requested additional testimony from White House medical staff, senior campaign officials, and communications aides.
Among the areas of inquiry are allegations that some official documents and letters from the president were signed with an autopen — an automatic signature device — rather than by Biden himself. Republicans argue that this could suggest attempts to create the appearance of an active president while shielding him from scrutiny.
Democrats, meanwhile, have countered that the use of autopens is long established in presidential administrations and does not indicate incapacity.
The Financial Angle
According to public filings, Donilon’s total compensation in 2024 included a $4 million base salary from the Biden campaign and affiliated organizations. The $4 million bonus, which he confirmed in his deposition, would have doubled his annual earnings — contingent upon Biden’s victory.
While bonuses tied to campaign success are not illegal, ethics experts note that such arrangements can create potential conflicts of interest when they involve senior government officials still performing public duties.
“It’s not necessarily against the law,” said Dr. Elaine Harper, a political ethics professor at Georgetown University. “But if an aide is simultaneously managing both government communications and campaign messaging, financial incentives linked to election outcomes can blur the line between public service and personal gain.”
The Fallout
The release of the deposition has reignited political debate in Washington over transparency, ethics, and the role of high-paid consultants in presidential politics.
Republicans are likely to use the revelation as a key talking point heading into 2026, portraying it as evidence of systemic corruption and a lack of accountability in the Biden administration.
Democrats, for their part, are accusing the Oversight Committee of selectively releasing testimony to score political points ahead of the midterms.
Despite the partisan framing, one thing is clear: Donilon’s admission has reopened questions about how power, loyalty, and financial reward intersect at the highest levels of American politics.
As the investigation continues, lawmakers from both sides agree on at least one point — the American public deserves transparency. Whether Donilon’s financial arrangement represents a routine campaign bonus or something more troubling, the truth may depend on what further evidence the committee uncovers in the weeks ahead.