Latest news with #Bernal
New York Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Miranda Devine: Jill Biden's ‘work husband' Anthony Bernal may have played a key role in covering up Joe's cognitive decline
There are few doubts in the White House about Jill 'Lady Macbeth' Biden's role in covering up her husband's cognitive deficits as she urged him to run for re-election. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt made that point crystal clear from the press room podium Thursday, saying the former first lady 'needs to answer' for 'lying to the American people' and 'shielding her husband away from the cameras.' For the normally circumspect Leavitt, it was a damning indictment. 'I think, frankly, the former first lady should certainly speak up about what she saw in regards to her husband and when she saw and what she knew,' she told reporters at a White House briefing. 'Anybody looking again at the videos and photo evidence of Joe Biden with your own eyes and a little bit of common sense can see this was a clear cover-up, and Jill Biden was certainly complicit in that coverup.' Some, like Leo Terrell, a senior counselor in the DOJ's civil rights office, went so far as to say Jill was guilty of 'elder abuse.' Of course, Joe Biden's delusional ambition is most at fault. He knew what he was doing when he ran for president in 2019 but needed teleprompters to recite a basic stump speech he used to know by heart. He knew what he was doing when he decided to run again in 2024, despite his health problems. 'Wizard of Oz-type' What is becoming clear is that the social-climbing former first lady and the aide she calls her 'work husband,' Arizona-born former child actor Anthony Bernal, played a bigger role in this con job than previously has been acknowledged. David Hogg, recently ousted as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, and Deterrian Jones, a former Biden White House staffer, point the finger at Bernal as the chief puppeteer in a new undercover video from Project Veritas released last week. Bernal had 'an enormous amount of power,' said Hogg. Jones described Jill's diminutive gay factotum as 'scary . . . like a Wizard of Oz-type figure. The general public wouldn't know what he looked like, but he wielded enormous power.' According to Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson's new book, 'Original Sin,' Jill was one of the most powerful first ladies in history, and that gave her Rasputin-like senior adviser outsized influence among the 'Politburo' that controlled her husband. When Biden was hidden away during the 2020 campaign in his Delaware basement using the COVID pandemic as an excuse, Bernal was one of only two staffers allowed to move to Wilmington to tend to their daily needs. When Biden was holed up at his vacation home in Rehoboth Beach last year, wrestling with the decision to abandon his campaign after his disastrous debate performance, Bernal was one of only four aides allowed by his side. Bernal, who boasted the title of 'special assistant to the president' and reportedly earned the maximum White House salary, began working for Jill during the 2008 presidential campaign when he was hired to help her transition into the role of second lady. While he was obsequious with the Bidens, he was loathed and feared by other White House staffers: 'He would not be welcome at my funeral,' a longtime Biden aide told the authors. Another said Bernal was 'the worst person they had ever met.' Bernal enforced a strict culture of loyalty, interrogating aides he felt didn't measure up, and using his power to cast out 'potential heretics.' 'Bullied colleagues' He worked with Jill to keep score of 'who was with them and against them,' chose her wardrobe, orchestrated her multiple Vogue covers, and planned glamorous overseas trips they could take together on Air Force One. This should come as no surprise to Post readers since White House correspondent Steven Nelson broke the story last March that Bernal 'bullied and verbally sexually harassed colleagues over more than a decade' but is considered 'untouchable' because Jill adores him. Bernal repeatedly speculated about 'the penis size of colleagues,' according to Nelson's sources. 'They talk a big game about integrity, decency, and kindness but when you work for the Bidens, you experience anything but that,' said one former staffer. The Bidens told us 'decency' was on the ballot. It was, but not in the way they meant. As Joe faded and disappeared from view toward the end of his presidency, Jill's rival court took charge as she commandeered Air Force One and a big Secret Service contingent for a frenetic round of solo campaigning, always accompanied by the indispensable Bernal. Her priority over then-candidate Donald Trump for Secret Service resources at a dinner she attended in Pittsburgh on the day of his rally in Butler, Pa., was blamed in part for Trump being inadequately protected when he was shot during an attempted assassination. Bernal was by Jill's side when she swanned into Hunter's gun trial in Wilmington last year to project presidential power to the jury, which nonetheless convicted her wayward 55-year-old stepson. He joined Jill on Air Force One when she jetted back to France for 24 hours at taxpayer expense to join her husband on an official visit for D-Day commemorations in the middle of the trial, before they returned together to the courtroom. If Jill is guilty of hiding the Bidens' many secrets, she had a willing accomplice in Bernal. We may learn more about his role in coming weeks as House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) probes the cover-up of Joe's cognitive decline and whether the president was fit to authorize the use of an autopen for his signature on executive orders and pardons. 'Historic scandal' Comer sent letters about what he calls the 'historic scandal,' demanding transcribed interviews from Bernal and four other former Biden aides, including Dr. Kevin O'Connor, Neera Tanden, Annie Tomasini, and Ashley Williams, all of whom have hired lawyers, he told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo on Sunday. O'Connor's interview is set for the end of June. Comer also is considering subpoenas for Jill and Hunter. 'These executive orders were many meant to Trump proof this White House,' Comer told Bartiromo. 'If we can find information that would lead us to believe that Joe Biden had no knowledge of those executive orders being signed in his name, then I think that the Trump administration could get them thrown out in court, and then Trump would be able to execute his agenda a whole lot easier without all the Trump-proofing that happened with the auto pen at the end of the Biden administration.' The American people do deserve to know who was running the White House the last four years. But it may not be so easy to prove that Joe was out of it. The former president showed he still has fight in him last week when he showed up at a veterans' memorial event in Delaware and snarked at questions from reporters about his cognitive and physical health: 'You can see that I'm mentally incompetent and I can't walk,' he said, sarcastically.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Inside the Biden White House: What David Hogg and former staffer said about Jill Biden's inner circle in secret video
A new undercover investigation by Project Veritas has sparked debate over the inner workings of the Biden White House, with startling claims about the influence wielded by Anthony Bernal, Chief of Staff to the former US First Lady Jill Biden. The video features candid comments from David Hogg , Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, and Deterrian Jones, a former Biden White House staffer, both pointing to Bernal as a central figure in a tight-knit power circle. Hogg: 'The Inner Circle Is the Bigger Issue' In the footage released by Project Veritas, Hogg emphasized that while the Democratic National Committee is 'always going to be a campaign arm of the president,' the more significant concern is the influence of Biden's inner circle. 'Jill Biden's Chief of Staff had an enormous amount of power,' Hogg stated, referring to Bernal, suggesting that the real decision-making power often lay with those surrounding the president—especially within the East Wing. A 'Shadowy Wizard of Oz'-Type Figure Adding to the claims, Deterrian Jones, who worked in the White House Office of Digital Strategy, described Bernal as an elusive but dominant force behind the scenes. 'He was scary… like a Wizard of Oz-type figure,' Jones said. 'The general public wouldn't know what he looked like, but he wielded enormous power.' Jones noted that among staffers, avoiding Bernal was common, and his influence was 'an open secret.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If You Eat Ginger Everyday for 1 Month This is What Happens Tips and Tricks Undo Loyalty as a Litmus Test These revelations align with descriptions from CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios' Alex Thompson in their book Original Sin, which portrays Jill Biden as one of the most powerful first ladies in history, thereby amplifying Bernal's position. The book reveals that Bernal enforced a strict culture of loyalty within the White House, often using that standard to shape staffing decisions. He was known to question aides with, 'Are you a Biden person?'—leading some to dub him the leader of the 'loyalty police.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Bernal named TXL player of the week
Hello everyone, I'm Dan Lucy on the Ozarks First digital desk. And the Springfield Cardinals are back at Hammons Field this week. In our Cardinals Nation update. Springfield catcher Leonardo Bernal is the Texas League player of the week. Last week in Tulsa, Bernal went 10-for-20 against the Drillers. He cranked three home runs, a double and 13 RBI. Bernal is a 21-year old from Panama City, Panama. He blasted back to back home runs Tuesday and Wednesday at ONEOK Field. He hit a three run shot on Tuesday and a two run shot on Wednesday. Bernal is the first Springfield catcher to win Texas League player of the week in a decade. Springfield opens a six game series against Northwest Arkansas Tuesday starting at 7:00 p.m. at Hammons Field. For more sports watch Ozarks First news at nine and ten. And I'll see you then. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Colorado abortion clinics report uptick in protesters and trespassing
Abortion rights supporters march in Denver in the wake of a leaked Supreme Court opinion that indicated justices would overturn Roe v. Wade on May 7, 2022. (Kevin Mohatt for Colorado Newsline) When volunteers in Pueblo, Colorado, escort patients to abortion clinics, they have umbrellas on hand to create a visual barrier in case nearby protesters try to intimidate patients. They also play music to 'drown out the harassment and create a calmer atmosphere,' Pueblo ProChoice President Jacquelyn Bernal said. If those deescalation tactics don't work and situations escalate beyond what her organization can control, they contact law enforcement, Bernal said. 'Our first priority is getting the patient inside safely so they can make it to their appointment without interference,' Bernal said in a statement. 'The bubble law is part of Colorado's criminal code, and it's there to protect patients and providers. We just need it to be enforced.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Colorado's 'bubble law' prohibits anyone from approaching people within 100 feet of a health care facility, including abortion clinics. It was crafted to curb the practice of protesters trying to dissuade patients from seeking abortions. Most Colorado abortion providers who participated in research by the National Abortion Federation said they experienced trespassing and protests outside their clinics in 2023 and 2024, according to a recent report. Of the 17 Colorado abortion providers that participated, 65% experienced at least one incident of trespassing, 53% reported protestors outside, 24% experienced an incident of obstruction, and 18% received threats. A spokesperson for the National Abortion Federation said Colorado providers received 216 suspicious, harassing or threatening calls, mail, emails or social media posts, compared with 150 in the previous report covering 2020-2022. A similar number of providers participated in the both reports but not the exact same group. Providers reported 27 instances of trespassing in the most recent report compared with 17 in the previous, 10 instances of vandalism compared with eight, eight instances of obstruction compared with seven, and five threats of death or harm compared with three. Bernal said while Colorado's bubble law exists to prevent 'exactly this kind of intimidation,' law enforcement needs to better enforce it. 'Law enforcement must do their part to protect patients,' Bernal said. 'When federal protections fall short, it's up to our communities and our state to step up. We need to protect each other and uphold the right to seek health care safely.' Providers in Colorado have consistently seen higher numbers of people seeking abortion care and have adapted to meet the new demand after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Every state except New Mexico that borders Colorado has some abortion restrictions. Nearby Texas does, too. About 62% of Colorado voters in November approved Amendment 79, which enshrined access to abortion as a right in the Colorado Constitution. The Colorado Legislature approved a measure implementing the amendment, and also passed several shield laws to protect providers and out-of-state patients. Christie Burkhardt, director of facilities and infrastructure operations at the Boulder Valley Health Center, joined the center's team shortly after the 2022 Supreme Court decision upending national abortion rights to help with the uptick in demand and oversee security. Between Burkhardt's start with the center in July 2022 and October 2024, she said she only reached out to local law enforcement over disruptions twice. Since October 2024, as the presidential election approached and rhetoric on abortion rights grew, she has called law enforcement 17 times for assistance with disruptions at the clinic. She said she has gotten to know the local police department 'very well' in the last six months. The center, which offers the full spectrum of reproductive health care, sees protesters at the public sidewalk next to its parking lot two to three times per week as of fall 2024, Burkhardt said. Small groups of people will try to talk to patients and clinic staff for anywhere from half an hour to full days, she said. Burkhardt said protesters are 'very emboldened' after the Trump administration pardoned protesters convicted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act and halted its enforcement. 'That can get very frightening for folks that have never been approached and have never had to deal with someone protesting what they do and at their work place, so our team has definitely had to learn a little bit on the fly,' Burkhardt said. She said harassing and threatening phone calls also increased at the center, particularly after the Boulder Abortion Clinic — one of the few clinics in the country that offered late-term abortions — shut its doors at the end of April. The center also receives about 10-15 pieces of threatening mail a month. Staff canceled a sex ed summer camp planned for 5th grade to 8th grade students out of safety concerns after the center garnered national attention online from right-wing media and other abortion opponents. Burkhardt said she has weekly conversations with clinic staff about safety, and they've developed new policies to ensure the safety of staff and patients. Karen Middleton, president of Cobalt, which advocates for access to reproductive health care and runs an abortion fund in Colorado, said her organization remains in contact with its partner clinics to gather feedback on their concerns and needs around clinic safety. 'Reports like these really emphasize why states like Colorado must take action on their own to ensure patients and providers are protected now that federal protection is not guaranteed,' Middleton said in a statement. Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, which operates about a dozen clinics across the state, declined to comment for this article. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Japan Today
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Japan Today
Verona bags sixth win for Lidl as Giro hits mountains
Carlos Verona took a solo win in the 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia from Fiume Veneto to Asiago cycling Spain's Carlos Verona of Lidl-Trek won stage 15 of the Giro d'Italia on Sunday while Team UAE's Isaac Del Toro remains in the overall lead after a mountainous 219-km stage from Fiume Veneto to Asiago. Verona's solo triumph was the 32-year-old's first-ever win on a grand tour and Lidl-Trek's sixth stage win on the 2025 Giro -- Mads Pedersen, with four, and Dan Hoole taking the other five. The victory came, however, on a day that started badly for Lidl-Trek with the retirement of team leader Giulio Ciccone who pulled out injured after a difficult day in the saddle on Saturday. Verona peeled away on the final climb and held a slender advantage over the peloton all the way to the line. The 21-year-old Del Toro did enough to hold on to the lead, the Mexican remaining 1min 20sec ahead of Simon Yates with Spaniard Juan Ayuso third, six seconds further adrift -- small change given the mountains ahead. "The whole country is behind me. It's incredible, like a dream," said Del Toro, who took the lead a week ago, and is now being followed by an increasing number of Mexicans arriving in Italy to support him. Egan Bernal's Ineos team were a chief protagonist during an eventful stage, with attacks on both big climbs. "We have nothing to lose on this Giro, and everything to ride for," Bernal said. Second-placed Yates of Visma kept his powder dry the first time Bernal accelerated on the Monte Grappa 21-km climb but Del Toro skipped after him with ease. Yates followed them on their second doomed attack on the final climb, more aimed at killing off the fading hopes of pre-race favorite Primoz Roglic. The Slovenian, who fell heavily on Saturday, suffered further serious damage to his aspirations, dropping out of the top five after losing another 1 minute, 30 seconds. Monday is a rest day ahead of a challenging final week culminating in Rome on June 1. The time gaps across the top 10 riders should be shaken up from stage 16 with five monster climbs and a summit finish as the 21-day marathon enters the Alps. The pure climbers such as Bernal, Yates and Richard Carapaz could cause more havoc there. "The third week is where the action is," said former Giro and Olympic champion Carapaz on Sunday. This is followed by another mountain run that is an invitation to the downhill daredevils with two huge descents on stage 17. The decider might be stage 19 with another five-mountain slog, while stage 20 has a giant 18.5-km climb at 9.5 percent gradient to over 2,000-meter altitude. Ayuso and Del Toro have time, youth and a strong posse in hand, but former Grand Tour winners are lurking. Yates, who won the Vuelta a Espana in 2018, is six seconds ahead of Ayuso, while 2019 Giro winner Carapaz of EF is a further 31sec off. Another Giro winner, and 2019 Tour de France champion, Bernal is another 1min 30 back and poised to strike in a grueling final week. © 2025 AFP
