Jill Biden’s former chief of staff Anthony Bernal invoked the Fifth Amendment during a congressional deposition Wednesday morning, refusing to tell lawmakers whether he and other White House staffers carried out presidential duties while Joe Biden’s cognitive abilities declined.
Republicans on the House Oversight Committee subpoenaed Bernal to appear for the deposition as part of a their investigation into the alleged cover-up of Biden’s deteriorating health and his mental fitness as president.
Bernal even refused to say whether Biden instructed him to lie about his cognitive health, Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) said in a statement following the deposition.
“During his deposition today, Mr. Bernal pleaded the Fifth when asked if any unelected official or family members executed the duties of the President and if Joe Biden ever instructed him to lie about his health,” Comer stated.
“This week new reporting confirms President Biden’s aides took unauthorized executive actions during his presidency amid his cognitive decline,” Comer said. “It’s no surprise that Anthony Bernal is pleading the Fifth Amendment to shield himself from criminal liability.”
Following the deposition, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) told reporters that it was “just crazy” that Bernal couldn’t answer a single question about Biden’s fitness to perform his duties.
Donalds said that Bernal had the right to plead the fifth, but was “hiding behind the Constitution” to avoid telling the truth about Biden’s cognitive decline.
The Florida Republican shared his “takeaways” on X and called for all of Biden’s staff to be subpoenaed, as well as Jill Biden and Kamala Harris.
????He couldn’t answer A SINGLE QUESTION
????He refused to read his own statement
????This is corruption at the highest-level
????Joe was not in charge of his own admin
????Every order, bill, & memo is NULL & VOID
????The Democrats can’t hide from this
????We must subpoena ALL BIDEN STAFF
????@DrBiden must be called to testify
????@KamalaHarris must be called to testify
Other Republicans on the panel also sounded off on X.
“Every additional official who refuses to provide insight into the Autopen Administration is further proof that corruption runs incredibly deep,” Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) posted.
“If Joe was truly ‘sharp as a tack,’ why can’t his admin’s folks who were so close to him answer SIMPLE questions under oath about his mental acuity?” asked Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas).
Back in May, a Project Veritas’ undercover investigation released video of former White House insiders gossiping about Bernal, claiming that he and a tight-knit inner circle “truly controlled the Biden White House.”
Democrat National Committee (DNC) Vice Chair David Hogg and Biden White House staffer Deterrian Jones described Bernal as a “scary” and “shadowy” figure who wielded “an enormous amount of power” in the Biden White House.
As part of the Oversight Committee’s sweeping investigation, Comer has demanded that several other former high-ranking staffers in Joe Biden’s White House appear for transcribed interviews, including former White House Dr. Kenneth O’Connor, former director of the Domestic Policy Council Neera Tanden, former assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff Annie Tomasini, and former deputy director of Oval Office operations Ashley Williams.
Last Wednesday, Dr. O’Connor also pleaded the fifth and refused to answer the committee’s questions.
Comer called the alleged “cover-ep” a “historic scandal,” echoing President Trump’s recently expressed thoughts on the case.
“The autopen is maybe one of the biggest scandals that we’ve had in 50-100 years,” Trump said during his meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, Monday.
“Americans demand transparency and accountability,” Comer concluded in his statement, Wednesday. “We will continue to pursue the truth on their behalf and examine options to get the answers we need.”