A "politiburo" alleged to have been "ultimate decision-makers" in former President Joe Biden's White House was revealed in a new book.

Original Sin, which was written by CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios' Alex Thompson, claims the group comprised of political veterans, which included Mile Donilon, Steve Ricchetti and Bruce Reed, as well as the former president's wife, former First Lady Jill Biden, and his son, Hunter, served as Biden's inner circle and made crucial decisions.

“In terms of who was running the White House, it’s a small group of people that have been around,” Thompson told PBS’ Washington Week on Friday (May 23) via the New York Post. “Some people within the administration called them the Politburo. That’s the term we used in the book.”

Former White House chief of staff Ron Klain and former senior adviser to the president Annie Tomasini were at times part of the 'politiburo,' as well as Anthony Bernal, the former first lady's top adviser, described as her "work husband" and having created a toxic workplace environment.

“And Joe Biden himself also is part of this. Joe Biden is not like — it’s not ‘Weekend at Bernie’s,’ right?” said Tapper, referencing the iconic 1980s comedy in which a dead guy is wheeled around during an elaborate ruse.

“He has some purchase here. He has some agency. And he’s aware of some of what’s going on.”

Biden, 82, shared a statement addressing his "very aggressive" prostate cancer diagnosis on his X account Monday morning.

"Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support," Biden wrote along with a photo of himself and his wife and their cat.

CNN initially reported Biden's diagnosis on Sunday.

“Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone,” the statement said. “While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management.”

Biden recently underwent "routine physical exam" led to the discovery of "a small nodule," a spokesperson confirmed to ABC News on Tuesday (May 13).

“In a routine physical exam a small nodule was found in the prostate which necessitated further evaluation,” the spokesperson said.

The former president previously had a lesion reported to be cancerous removed from his chest in February 2023, as well as multiple non-melanoma skin cancers removed with Mohs surgery prior to his inauguration in 2021.

"As expected, the biopsy confirmed that the small lesion was basal cell carcinoma," said White House physician Dr. Kevin O'Connor while describing the surgical procedure at the time via ABC News. "All cancerous tissue was successfully removed. … No further treatment is required."

"Basal cell carcinoma lesions do not tend to 'spread' or metastasize, as some more serious skin cancers such as melanoma or squamous cell carcinoma are known to do," O'Connor continued. "They do, however, have the potential to increase in size, resulting in a more significant issue as well as increased challenges for surgical removal."

O'Connor added that the "site of the biopsy has healed nicely and the President will continue dermatologic surveillance as part of his ongoing comprehensive healthcare" at the time.

Weather

Current Weather