Anthony Bernal, once a trusted aide to Jill Biden, clammed up before the House Oversight Committee, invoking the Fifth Amendment to dodge questions about former President Joe Biden’s health. His silence raises eyebrows, fueling suspicions of a cover-up among Biden’s inner circle. The move suggests there’s something to hide, but Bernal’s not talking.
Fox News reported that the House Oversight Committee, led by Chairman James Comer, is digging into whether Biden’s top aides concealed his mental and physical decline during his presidency.
Comer’s probe targets Bernal, a former senior advisor to the first lady, and others who may have shielded Biden’s condition. It’s a scandal that smells like loyalty over transparency.
Bernal, now listed as Jill Biden’s chief of staff in the Transition Office, was subpoenaed for a closed-door deposition on July 16.
He had previously skipped a voluntary interview, raising red flags about his willingness to cooperate. The Trump administration’s waiver of executive privilege forced his hand, but not his tongue.
During the deposition, Bernal refused to answer questions, pleading the Fifth like a cornered chess player. Comer told reporters that Bernal dodged queries about whether unelected officials or family members acted as president in Biden’s stead. That’s not just stonewalling—it’s a neon sign pointing to potential misconduct.
“During his deposition today, Mr. Bernal pleaded the Fifth when asked if any unelected official or family members executed the duties of the President,” Comer said.
His refusal to confirm or deny if Biden instructed him to lie about his health only deepens the mystery. If there’s nothing to hide, why the legal shield?
Rep. Byron Donalds, present during Comer’s remarks, didn’t mince words about the implications. “This is corruption at the highest level,” he declared, arguing that Bernal’s silence suggests Biden wasn’t fully in charge. If true, every executive order or bill signed could be on shaky ground, legally and morally.
Donalds went further, claiming that if Biden wasn’t running the show, “every order, every bill that was signed, every memorandum, as far as I’m concerned, are null and void.”
That’s a bold statement, but it’s hard to argue when key players won’t even talk. The American people deserve answers, not evasions.
The investigation isn’t just about Bernal. Former White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor also took the Fifth during his deposition last week, refusing to answer anything beyond his name. Twenty minutes of video footage released by the committee shows O’Connor’s stonewalling, which lasted less than half an hour.
An Oversight Committee aide noted that O’Connor’s blanket refusal wasn’t just about doctor-patient privilege. “He took the Fifth to all and any potential questions,” the aide said, suggesting O’Connor’s silence was more about self-preservation than professional ethics. That’s a troubling pattern for a probe seeking truth.
Bernal’s reputation as the “loyalty police,” as described in Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s book "Original Sin," paints him as a gatekeeper fiercely protective of the Bidens.
This nickname, coined by former Biden staffers, hints at why he might clam up to protect his former boss. Loyalty is admirable, but not when it buries the truth.
Comer’s investigation also questions whether executive actions were signed via autopen without Biden’s full awareness. If unelected aides or family members were pulling strings, it undermines the very foundation of democratic governance. The public’s trust hangs in the balance.
Two other former Biden staffers have cooperated, giving voluntary interviews, but Bernal and O’Connor’s refusals stand out.
Meanwhile, former deputy Chief of Staff Annie Tomasini faces her own subpoenaed deposition on Friday. Will she talk, or follow the Fifth Amendment playbook?
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat on the committee, brushed off the probe, calling the investigators “losers” and saying the deposition was “fine.” Her flippant tone dismisses serious questions about who was really running the White House. It’s a deflection that won’t satisfy a skeptical public.
Comer, undeterred, vowed to press on, stating, “We’re gonna continue our investigation.” He emphasized that “all options are on the table,” even hinting at bringing in Joe Biden himself. That’s a long shot, but it shows the committee’s determination to uncover the truth.
