Former Biden aide Annie Tomasini became the third witness to invoke their Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination in the House probe of an alleged cover-up of President Biden’s mental decline in office.
Ms. Tomasini appeared under subpoena in the House Oversight Committee’s investigation of whether Biden aides acted on behalf of the diminished president and used an autopen to sign pardons and other important documents without his approval.
“Today, the third witness in our investigation into the cover-up of President Biden’s cognitive decline and unauthorized executive actions pleaded the Fifth Amendment,” Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said in a statement. “There is now a pattern of key Biden confidants seeking to shield themselves from criminal liability for this potential conspiracy.”
No lawmakers were present for Ms. Tomasini’s deposition on Friday.
Ms. Tomasini was a longtime aide to Mr. Biden and served as senior adviser and deputy chief of staff towards the end of Mr. Biden’s term.
She pleaded the Fifth when asked if Mr. Biden, a member of his family, or anyone at the White House instructed her to lie regarding his health at any time, and when asked if she ever advised President Biden on the handling of classified documents found in his garage, if President Biden or anyone in the White House instructed her to conceal or destroy classified material found at President Biden’s home or office, and if she ever conspired with anyone in the White House to hide information regarding the Biden family’s ’business’ dealings, according to Mr. Comer, Kentucky Republican.
“It’s unbelievable that Ms. Tomasini and others refuse to answer basic questions about President Biden’s fitness to serve,” Mr. Comer said. “It’s apparent they would rather hide key information to protect themselves and Joe Biden than be truthful with the American people about his historic scandal. There needs to be transparency and accountability, and we will continue to pursue the truth and examine options to get the answers we need.”
Ms. Tomasini had worked for Mr. Biden since his days as senator when he chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. She also played a big role in his 2020 presidential campaign, serving as his traveling chief of staff.
Over a dozen former Biden staffers are scheduled to come in for transcribed interviews through September. So far, the only one to speak was Neera Tanden, who served as staff secretary in the Biden White House. She was authorized in her role to direct the use of the autopen.
She testified that she had “minimal interaction” with Mr. Biden regarding the mechanical signature, but said she followed protocol for receiving approval for its use from Mr. Biden’s top aides.
Mr. Biden’s former physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, invoked his Fifth Amendment rights on July 9. Anthony Bernal, chief of staff to former first lady Jill Biden, refused to speak at his interview on July 16.
After Mr. Bernal pleaded the Fifth, Mr. Comer told reporters there are “other options on the table” if the witnesses keep refusing to speak.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Texas Democrat and member of the Oversight panel, was present for Dr. O’Connor and Mr. Bernal’s appearances. After Dr. O’Connor took the Fifth, she said he was protecting himself from a “rogue” Justice Department.
President Trump has argued that there’s no way Mr. Biden was the one deciding to leave the border open to millions of illegal immigrants throughout his presidency, suggesting that someone else was making the decisions.
After questions multiplied over Mr. Biden’s use of the autopen, the former president issued a statement denying he had his aides use the autopen to sign important documents without his knowledge.
“Let me be clear: I made the decisions during my presidency,” said Mr. Biden, 82. “I made the decisions about pardons, executive orders, legislation, and proclamations. Any suggestion that I didn’t is ridiculous and false.”
The White House has launched a separate investigation into the use of the autopen during the Biden administration.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Thursday that the White House requested documents from the National Archives to review Mr. Biden’s signature to evaluate if an autopen was used and whether it was without his knowledge.
She said Mr. Trump does not rely on the autopen for White House business.
“Any document that has legal implications, this president’s signature is on it because he’s the one making the decisions. It does not appear that was the truth in the previous White House,” she said.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.