Key Biden staffers asked to testify on alleged role in mental decline ‘cover-up'
Print Close
By Peter Pinedo
Published May 27, 2025
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., is demanding several high-ranking staffers in former President Joe Biden's White House appear for transcribed interviews on their suspected roles working "behind the scenes" to "cover up" the former president's significant mental decline during his term.
Comer, who leads the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent interview requests to four key Biden White House aides — former director of the Domestic Policy Council Neera Tanden, former assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff Annie Tomasini, former senior adviser to the first lady Anthony Bernal and former deputy director of Oval Office operations Ashley Williams.
Comer said that all of these high-ranking staffers worked "behind the scenes" and "ran interference for President Biden" to avoid his worsening condition from being discovered during his time in office.
BIDEN AIDE INTIMIDATED REPORTER INVESTIGATING FORMER PRESIDENT'S MENTAL DECLINE WITH 'TACIT THREAT:' BOOK
The chairman has also requested a transcribed interview with Biden's physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor.
Comer told Fox News last week that these "unelected bureaucrats" had an overwhelming influence over Biden and were possibly serving as "de facto" presidents in his stead.
"Today, we are calling on President Biden's physician and former White House advisors to participate in transcribed interviews so we can begin to uncover the truth," Comer said in a statement.
The GOP effort comes shortly after the release of "Original Sin" by CNN host Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson, which claims that the Biden White House was going all out trying to control the perception of the aging president's failing health. The book exposes the cover-up of Biden's decline and his decision to run for re-election.
Tapper said during an interview with Piers Morgan on Monday that what Biden's aides did to hide his condition from the public could be "even worse" than the Watergate scandal during Richard Nixon's presidency.
"It is a scandal. It is without question, and maybe even worse than Watergate in some ways," said Tapper. "The only reason we invoke Watergate is just to make clear like, it's not Watergate — this is an entirely separate scandal, maybe even worse."
CREDIBILITY CRISIS: WHITE HOUSE REPORTERS SPEAK OUT ON WHETHER BIDEN'S MENTAL DECLINE WAS DELIBERATELY HIDDEN
In his letters, Comer said that while the committee has been investigating the cover-up for nearly a year, "newfound details regarding President Biden's obvious decline demand renewed scrutiny of White House personnel actions and knowledge of relevant information over the course of the prior administration."
Comer said the committee is seeking "to understand who made key decisions and exercised the powers of the executive branch during the Biden Administration."
"The cover-up of President Biden's obvious mental decline is a historic scandal," he said. "The American people deserve to know when this decline began, how far it progressed, and who was making critical decisions on his behalf."
Recalling the Oversight Committee's previous attempts to subpoena these staffers, Comer said that "the Biden White House blocked these individuals from providing testimony." Now, he said that "any continued obstruction will be met with swift and decisive action." If the staffers and physician do not honor his request, Comer said the "next step" will be issuing subpoenas, compelling them to testify.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
On Tuesday, Comer floated the possibility of also issuing subpoenas to former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre as well as Hunter Biden and Jill Biden.
"Obviously, we're interested in Jean Pierre. … We're also interested in Jill Biden and Hunter Biden," he said, adding that "if the trail leads us to the next step, which many believe would be perhaps Jill Biden and Hunter Biden, then we will go there."
Fox News Digital reached out to Tanden, Tomasini, Bernal, Williams, O'Connor and Jean-Pierre for comment. Print Close
URL
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/key-biden-staffers-asked-testify-alleged-role-mental-decline-cover-up
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
‘Come Get Your Guy': Jimmy Kimmel Dares Republicans To Act On ‘Deranged' Trump
Jimmy Kimmel on Monday mocked President Donald Trump for uncovering 'perhaps the most shocking political scandal in the history of this planet.' Trump over the weekend shared a post on his Truth Social website claiming that Joe Biden was executed in 2020 and replaced by 'clones doubles & robotic engineered soulless mindless entities.' 'First of all, aren't robots and clones two entirely different things? Not in Trump's head they aren't,' Kimmel said. 'And secondly, I know Trump puts out this stuff as a smokescreen to hide the fact that he's about to cut $600 billion from Medicaid, but this is so deeply nuts.' Kimmel said the fact that Trump is spreading 'deranged' stories should be front-page news around the nation ― and called out Republicans for treating Trump's mental state differently from that of former President Joe Biden. 'Hey Republicans, remember when you were very concerned Joe might not have the mental acuity to be president? Come get your guy!' Kimmel said. 'I mean if your dad was saying stuff like this you'd start looking for an assisted living facility.' He also pointed out a problem with Trump's latest conspiracy theory. 'And by the way, whoever built that Joe Biden robot is very bad at building robots,' he said. 'I mean if anyone was replaced by a robotic clone it's Melania, right?' See more in his Monday night monologue:
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jennifer Lopez Says She's ‘Not Looking for No Man' to ‘Ruin' Happiness After Ben Affleck Divorce
Jennifer Lopez knows that 'love don't cost a thing,' but that doesn't mean she's searching for it right now. 'I [told Tiffany Haddish], 'Girl, I'm not looking for no man,'' Lopez, 55, quipped to Access Hollywood of her interactions with the comedian, 45, who wanted to search for a partner during the 2025 American Music Awards on Monday, May 26. 'I'm happy right now. I'm not trying to ruin it, OK?' Lopez, who hosted the AMAs and also kissed dancers during her performance, subsequently blew a kiss to the camera before strutting down the red carpet. The pop star shared footage of the interview via Instagram on Thursday, May 29, reiterating her single status. Jennifer Lopez Is Taking Time to 'Be Single and Find Herself Again' After Ben Affleck Divorce 'In the words of the great Céline Dion, 'I do it for mah-self' 🥰😘,' Lopez captioned her upload. Lopez has been single since she finalized her divorce from ex-husband Ben Affleck earlier this year. (Lopez and Affleck, 52, were married for two years, initially rekindling their 2000s-era romance in 2021.) 'I think my whole life I've just been trying to say I'm good enough, until where I am now, when I know. I'm giving myself credit. I'm telling that little girl that grew up in the Bronx, 'You've done really good for yourself.' I didn't do that for so many years,' Lopez said in an Interview profile published in October 2024, making her first public comments on the separation. 'And now I think, with everything that's happened in my life and in my relationships and even in my career, it's like, give yourself a bit of comfort and love. We've been through a lot of things that nobody knows about, and you've persevered and you refuse to give up and to let it get you down.' She added, 'There's something to be said for that because things can really change your life in a way that you do want to give up and say, 'F*** this, this is too hard, I don't want to do this anymore.' But I'm not there. I refuse to not give myself everything that little girl deserves.' Tiffany Haddish Jokes About Jennifer Lopez Being 'Single' and Kissing Dancers After 2025 AMAs Opening Lopez further noted at the time that it felt like her 'whole f***ing world exploded' when she and Affleck broke up. 'Sometimes, it's going to work out great. And sometimes it won't. And that's f***ing OK, too,' she said. 'I was thinking about this time in my life, and I'm like, 'That's not what I thought it was going to turn out like.' And then I thought, 'No, this is exactly where I needed to be, to lead me to where I want to go.'' Since her divorce, Lopez has focused on her career and raising 17-year-old twins Max and Emme. (Lopez shares her children with ex-husband Marc Anthony.) 'J. Lo is starting to feel like herself again,' a source exclusively told Us Weekly in February. 'She's making sure she is happy and that she's being a good mom.'
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Grisly 1978 cold-case murder of high school teacher in California solved
Detectives in San Jose say they have solved a grisly 1978 cold-case murder of a high school teacher who was found stabbed to death in the school's hallway with a knife marked 'Teacher Dear.' The violence unfolded on June 16, 1978, at Branham High School, one day after school let out for summer and teachers were breaking down their classrooms for the break. Detectives said a student discovered Diane Peterson on the floor near her classroom suffering from a single stab wound to the chest. Harry 'Nicky' Nickerson, a 16-year-old at the time, was a suspect in the brutal murder. A 1978 photo of Nickerson taken four days after the killing appeared similar to a composite sketch of the suspect based on eyewitness accounts. One of those witnesses told police that Nickerson confessed to the killing and that he had seen him carrying a knife that had the words 'Teacher Dear' written on it. 'Police at that time were unable to corroborate the claim,' officials at the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office said in a news release. Then, in 1983, family members of a Branham student told investigators that their son claimed to have seen the killing and identified the Nickerson as the one who did it, but the student later denied making that claim. A year later, in 1984, yet another witness told detectives that Nickerson implicated himself in the teacher's murder and that he'd done it because Peterson caught him in the middle of a drug deal. Dating apps tied to U.S. citizens kidnapped in Mexico, officials warn Nearly 40 years later, the district attorney's crime lab conducted extensive DNA testing on the case but was never able to identify the perpetrator, until a family member came forward in 2025. 'The relative admitted to police that Nickerson came to their home minutes after the killing and confessed to having stabbed Peterson,' officials said. Nickerson's life following the murder was a series of run-ins with law enforcement. He was arrested and convicted on charges of armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and kidnapping, the release stated. In 1984, he was critically shot during an attempted drug robbery, though he survived the ordeal. Then, in 1993, he took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, officials said. 'This marks the end of a terrible and tragic mystery. Ms. Peterson would have been a senior citizen today if she had not crossed paths with this violent teenager. I wish she was,' Santa Clara County DA Jeff Rosen said. 'I am pleased that we have solved this case, even though the murderer is not alive to face justice. I wish he was.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
