BREAKING NEWS Top Biden aide Annie Tomasini pleads the fifth on his mental health 'cover-up' as scheme widens
Tomasini invoked her right to remain silent and avoid incrimination during her closed-door interview with the Republican-led House Oversight Committee.
The committee has been probing the extent of the Democratic president's mental decline was understood by his top staffers.
The probe has focused on former staffers who would be privy to the most sensitive presidential discussions, and even those who may have operated the autopen.
Tomasini's interview lasted less than an hour and videos show she did not answer any reporter questions on her way in or out of the private session.
She has become the third former staffer of Biden to invoke their right to silence in the Oversight investigation.
Joe Biden's personal physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, and Jill Biden's longtime aide Anthony Bernal, also pleaded the fifth amendment protections in recent weeks.
Oversight Chairman James Comer noted that there's a pattern beginning to emerge as the Biden aides stonewall the investigators.
🚨🚨🚨
The third witness in our investigation into the cover-up of President Biden's cognitive decline and unauthorized executive actions pleaded the Fifth Amendment today. There is now a pattern of key Biden confidants seeking to shield themselves from criminal liability for…
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) July 18, 2025
'The third witness in our investigation into the cover-up of President Biden's cognitive decline and unauthorized executive actions pleaded the Fifth Amendment today,' Comer wrote on X.
'There is now a pattern of key Biden confidants seeking to shield themselves from criminal liability for this potential conspiracy.'
'Annie Tomasini, former Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Oval Office Operations, pleaded the Fifth when asked if Joe Biden, a member of his family, or anyone at the White House instructed her to lie regarding his health at any time.'
She also pleaded the fifth when asked about classified documents being found in Biden's garage, if the former president instructed anyone to destroy or conceal classified documents at the Democrat's home or if she's conspired with anyone to hide information on the Biden family's business affairs, Comer shared.
The Kentucky Republican said this is a 'historical scandal.'
Last week, Comer accused O'Connor of a conspiracy to 'cover up' Biden's cognitive decline.
O'Connor cited patient privilege as his reason for pleading the fifth.
His lawyer, ahead of his testimony, expressed concern about what O'Connor would be able to say without violating doctor-patient confidentiality laws.
David Schertler, O'Connor's attorney, said in a statement that the doctor 'asserted the physician-patient privilege, as well as his right under the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, in declining to answer questions from the staff of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform regarding his service as Physician to the President during the Biden Administration.'
The physician was in charge of Biden's annual physical and repeatedly deemed Biden fit to hold office. Republicans charge the former president's inner circle engaged in a conspiracy to hide cognitive decline.
Ahead of O'Connor's closed door sit-down, President Donald Trump's administration waived his ability to exert executive privilege, saying he needed to talk to Congress.
A letter sent to him by the White House - obtained by the Daily Mail - informed him he did not have 'executive privilege' in the matter.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
9 minutes ago
- The Independent
Florida school board chair apologizes after mocking Hulk Hogan's death on Facebook
A Florida school board chair has apologized for celebrating Hulk Hogan's death after writing on Facebook that there was now 'one less MAGA ' in the world. Sarah Rockwell, an elected Alachua County Public Schools board member, took a swipe at the late wrestling legend and longtime Donald Trump ally just hours after news broke last Thursday that he died from cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater Beach, Florida. 'Oh did Hulk die? I didn't even know. Good. One less MAGA in the world,' she said. In a follow-up comment, Rockwell posted that Hogan worked with WWE co-founders Vince McMahon and Linda McMahon, the education secretary, to 'union bust professional wrestling.' 'He's never been a good guy,' she continued. 'I feel absolutely nothing about his death.' Rockewell has faced a growing wave of backlash over her comments, including a scathing opinion piece in the Alachua Chronicle that argued she could be censured for violating the board's Standards of Ethical Conduct, which require members to 'value the worth and dignity of every person.' The Alachua County Republican Party accused Rockwell of having 'stomped on a man's grave over politics.' Raemi Eagle-Glenn, a Florida GOP State Committeewoman who Governor Ron DeSantis appointed to the Board of County Commissioners of Alachua County in 2022, called for Rockwell to 'RESIGN NOW.' 'Does Sarah Rockwell wish death upon the Trump supporting students and parents of Alachua County?' she added. Rockwell apologized on Saturday for her 'cruel and flippant' comments about Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea . 'A few days ago, I made a cruel and flippant comment from my personal Facebook account on a friend's post regarding the death of Hulk Hogan,' she wrote in her apology on Saturday. 'I want to make it very clear that I never have and never will wish harm on anyone regardless of whether we share political views. While I strongly disagree with some of the comments Hulk Hogan made, that is no excuse for my comment.' Rockwell expressed deep regret over the remarks and has since deleted the post. The school board chair said she was dismayed that her comment 'has eroded confidence in my ability to represent all students, families and staff' in the county. Hogan threw his support behind Trump after the then-GOP presidential candidate survived an assassination attempt at a Butler, Pennsylvania, rally in July last year. The wrestler decided to use his theatrical personality to officially endorse and advocate for Trump at the Republican National Convention. Hogan yelled into the microphone while ripping his shirt off with his bare hands to reveal a 'Trump Vance 2024' tank top underneath, flexing his muscles the entire time. Last week, Trump remembered his 'great friend' in a post on Truth Social, calling him 'strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart.'
Daily Record
9 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Donald Trump hails 'beautiful' Scotland as he fires warning to Europe over immigration
The US President was speaking to reporters on the steps of his five star Turnberry Hotel after welcoming Keir Starmer to South Ayrshire. Donald Trump has hailed "incredible, beautiful" Scotland as the US President welcomed Keir Starmer for talks at Turnberry today. But the US President wasted no time in firing a warning to other European leaders over immigration. Speaking to reporters on the steps of his five star hotel in South Ayrshire, Trump pointed to the Prime Minister's 'very strong stand on immigration'. Sir Keir said he was 'very pleased' to have signed an agreement to return people. Mr Trump told reporters: 'My mother was born in Scotland, and it's an incredible place, a beautiful place. 'And if that be the case, I congratulate you. […] Because, you know Europe is going to is a much different place than it was just five years ago, 10 years ago. 'They've got to get their act together. If they don't, you're not going to have Europe anymore, as you know it, and you can't do that. This is a magnificent part of the world, and you cannot ruin it. 'You cannot let people come in here illegally. And what happens is, there'll be murderers, there'll be drug dealers, there'll be all sorts of things that other countries don't want, and they send them to you, and they send them to us, and you've got to stop them. 'And I hear that you've taken a very strong stand on immigration.' The Republican leader also suggested he would reduce the 50-day deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine. The US President told reporters he was 'very disappointed' with Vladimir Putin. He said: 'We thought we had that settled numerous times, and then President Putin goes out and starts launching rockets into some city like Kyiv and kills a lot of people in a nursing home or whatever. 'You have bodies lying all over the street, and I say that's not the way to do it. So we'll see what happens with that.' He added: 'We're going to have to look and I'm going to reduce that 50 days that I gave him to a lesser number, because I think I already know the answer, what's going to happen.' Asked about tariffs on Scotland's world famous whisky industry, he could be heard saying: 'We'll talk about that, I didn't know whisky was a problem. I'm not a big whisky drinker but maybe I should be.' And he said of the special relationship: 'Our relationship is unparalleled.'
Daily Mail
40 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Gaza, girders ...but no golf: Keir Starmer meets Donald Trump in Scotland to talk steel tariffs deal and Middle East violence amid Cabinet rift
Keri Starmer sat down with Donald Trump in Scotland today as he tries to gain the president's backing for ending tariffs on UK steel and the humanitarian crisis being perpetuated by Israel in Gaza. The Prime Minister travelled to one of Trump's Scottish golf courses amid a backdrop of issues both foreign and domestic to take up with the erratic world leader. Security is tight at Turnberry in Ayeshire where they are discussing how to continue putting into place the US-UK trade deal they signed earlier this year, as well as the Middle East crisis. Speaking to reporters as he left the White House on Friday, Mr Trump said he and Sir Keir would be 'fine-tuning' the US-UK trade deal when they meet in Scotland. But he downplayed the prospect on an agreement on steel, warning there was 'not a lot' of wiggle room on steel tariffs. Sir Keir and the US President struck a trade agreement to reduce tariffs on car and aerospace imports, but questions remain over whether UK steel imports into America will face 50 per cent tariffs. The PM's meeting with Mr Trump also comes amid growing global outrage at the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, while peace talks between Hamas and Israel came to a standstill last week. Some 255 MPs from nine parties have now signed a letter demanding the UK follow the lead of France and recognise a Palestinian state. And reports suggest the row over whether to do this stretches all the way into the Cabinet. But the PM's attempt to win over the president does not stretch to joining the golf-mad leader on the first tee. No 10 said there was no plan for the two men to play a round together. White House special envoy Steve Witkoff blamed Hamas for a 'lack of desire' to reach an agreement in the Middle East. Since then, Israel has promised military pauses in three populated areas of Gaza to allow designated UN convoys of aid to reach desperate Palestinians. But the UK, which is joining efforts to airdrop aid into the enclave and evacuate children in need of medical assistance, has said that access to supplies must be 'urgently' widened. Sir Keir is under increasing pressure from MPs and even his own ministers to recognise Palestinian statehood. It comes after French President Emmanuel Macron said his country will do so in September. Some 221 MPs from Labour, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, SNP, Greens, Plaid Cymru, SDLP and independents have signed a letter pressuring the Government to follow suit at a UN meeting next week. The majority of those who have signed, 131, are Labour MPs. The US is the country 'with the leverage' to make a difference in the conflict in Gaza, the Business Secretary suggested this morning. Speaking to BBC Breakfast ahead of Sir Keir's meeting with Mr Trump, Jonathan Reynolds said: 'Of course, Gaza will be on the agenda today. 'The intolerable scenes that we're seeing, the world is seeing, are the backdrop to that. 'And of course, the US has itself secured on two occasions ceasefires in the conflict, so they have been actively engaged in it, working with Egypt, the Qataris, and other key partners in the region. 'The US is the country I think we'd all recognise with the leverage here to really make a difference on both sides. So their role is fundamentally important.' Mr Reynolds dismissed the idea that there is a split at the top of Government over when to recognise a Palestinian state. Health Secretary Wes Streeting is among those to have signalled a desire for hastened action calling for recognition 'while there's still a state of Palestine left to recognise'. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the Government wants to recognise a Palestinian state 'in contribution to a peace process'. Speaking to Good Morning Britain, Mr Reynolds said: 'There's no split. The whole of the Labour Party, every Labour MP, was elected on a manifesto of recognition of a Palestinian state, and we all want it to happen. 'It is a case of when, not if.' He added: 'It's about how we use this moment, because you can only do it once to have a meaningful breakthrough.' Mr Reynolds also admitted there is 'more to do' on the US-UK trade deal, but played down the prospect of a fresh announcement later. The Business Secretary said: 'We were very happy to announce the breakthrough that we had a few months ago in relation to sectors like automotive, aerospace, which are really important to the UK economy. 'But we always said it was job saved, but it wasn't job done. There's more to do. 'The negotiations have been going on on a daily basis since then. There's a few issues to push a little bit further today. 'We won't perhaps have anything to announce a resolution of those talks. 'But there's some sectors that we still need to resolve, particularly around steel and aluminium, and there's the wider conversation about what the US calls its reciprocal tariffs.' The US-UK agreement signed at the G7 summit last month slashed trade barriers on goods from both countries. But tariffs for the steel industry, which is of key economic importance to the UK, were left to stand at 25 per cent rather than falling to zero as originally agreed. Concerns had previously been raised that the sector could face a levy of up to 50 per cent - the US's global rate - unless a further agreement was made by July 9, when Mr Trump said he would start implementing import taxes on America's trading partners. But that deadline has been and gone without any concrete update on the status of UK steel. Sir Keir and Mr Trump are also expected to discuss the war in Ukraine, which Downign Street said would include 'applying pressure' on Vladimir Putin to end the invasion. Speaking to journalists on Sunday about his meeting with Sir Keir, Mr Trump said: 'We're meeting about a lot of things. We have our trade deal and it's been a great deal. 'It's good for us. It's good for them and good for us. I think the UK is very happy, they've been trying for 12 years to get it and they got it, and it's a great trade deal for both, works out very well. 'We'll be discussing that. I think we're going to be discussing a lot about Israel. They're very much involved in terms of wanting something to happen. 'He's doing a very good job, by the way.' Mr Trump's private trip to the UK comes ahead of a planned state visit in September.
