The House Oversight Committee released footage of former Biden aide Anthony Bernal repeatedly invoking the Fifth Amendment during his deposition Wednesday morning.
Bernal, who was appearing before the House Oversight Committee as a witness in its investigation into the Biden administration’s use of the autopen, invoked his constitutional right against self-incrimination multiple times, according to a 19-minute video recording.
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Committee investigators pressed Bernal on his past assessments of the president’s mental and physical condition during his interview, asking him whether he advised then-President Joe Biden to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, and whether Joe Biden was fit for the presidency, among other questions.
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“On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer the question pursuant to my Fifth Amendment rights under the Constitution,” Bernal repeatedly answered.
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The former Biden aide was an assistant to the president and a senior adviser to Jill Biden. Bernal was subpoenaed to appear before the committee after he canceled plans to appear before the committee last month for the committee’s second transcribed interview.
Bernal’s cancellation came after President Donald Trump waived executive privilege for all witnesses. Executive privilege allows a witness to withhold information from Congress to protect the integrity of the executive branch. As the investigation progresses, the rest of the witnesses will also be denied the same protections.
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This was not the first video to be released from the investigation of a witness who invoked their Fifth Amendment right. The House Oversight Committee also released the video of the closed-door testimony with Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, last week.