On Wednesday, a former senior aide to Jill Biden, Anthony Bernal, invoked the Fifth Amendment during a deposition with the House Oversight Committee, becoming the second individual to do so in the ongoing investigation into President Joe Biden's mental state and the use of the autopen while in office. The Fifth Amendment protects individuals from being compelled to testify against themselves in legal proceedings.
Bernal, who served as chief of staff to Jill Biden, was subpoenaed to provide testimony, but chose not to answer any questions. This refusal occurred shortly after the deposition began, leading Rep. James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, to express concern that unelected individuals were involved in decision-making processes in the White House, without public clarity about who they were.
Ignoring questions from reporters while entering and leaving the hearing room, Bernal was accompanied by his lawyer, Jonathan Su, a former deputy White House counsel. Su emphasized in a statement that invoking the Fifth Amendment should not be interpreted as an admission of wrongdoing. Meanwhile, President Biden has characterized the inquiries as legally unfounded, asserting that he has always been involved and knowledgeable regarding the actions of his administration, particularly in matters of clemency.
Rep. Comer is leading this investigation and has sought testimony from numerous former Biden aides, including former White House chiefs of staff Ron Klain and Jeff Zients, along with senior advisers like Mike Donilon and Anita Dunn. On the preceding Tuesday, the committee also subpoenaed Annie Tomasini, a former deputy chief of staff, making her the third former official demanded to testify.
Democratic representatives have largely dismissed the Republican-led probe as political theater. Rep. Jasmine Crockett from Texas labeled the proceedings as ineffective, emphasizing that the inquiry did not provide substantial results. However, many Republicans view the investigation as a priority issue for their caucus, particularly with the upcoming midterm elections on the horizon. The Trump White House has also initiated its own investigation concerning Biden’s age, and Senate Republicans have conducted hearings on related topics.
Rep. Byron Donalds, also present during Bernal's deposition, criticized the administration, stating that inability to answer straightforward questions regarding President Biden's abilities suggests he was not in command of his administration. Donalds asserted that every member of Biden’s administration should be subpoenaed, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Jill Biden, asserting that the inquiry will continue until they investigate all individuals involved.
Rep. Comer affirmed that the committee plans to intensify its investigation, starting with lower-level staffers linked to the autopen's operation, before systematically moving up to individuals believed to have issued orders to those staffers. He indicated that the committee might eventually seek testimony from family members of President Biden as the investigation unfolds.
This ongoing inquiry into President Biden's mental fitness and administrative operations remains a contentious issue, dividing party lines and raising questions about accountability in governmental leadership. The implications of these investigations could resonate throughout the political landscape as both parties gear up for the approaching electoral contests.
