Latest news with #mentalstate
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jill Biden aide refuses to answer questions on former president's decline
A former senior aide of Jill Biden has declined to answer questions on her husband's mental state while he was in office. Anthony Bernal, who served as chief of staff to the former first lady, pleaded the fifth amendment when questioned by House Republicans on Wednesday. Mr Bernal was subpoenaed for his testimony by the House oversight committee as part of an investigation into Joe Biden's mental decline. 'Well, unfortunately, that was quick,' said James Comer, chairman of the House oversight committee, when Mr Bernal invoked the amendment, which prevents people from being forced to testify against themselves. Mr Comer, a Kentucky representative, added: 'I believe the American people are concerned. They're concerned that there were people making decisions in the White House that were not only unelected but no one to this day knows who they were.' Democrats have been widely criticised for not facing up to the former president's deterioration. The 82-year-old pulled out of the 2024 presidential race amid pressure from his party after a disastrous appearance in the first televised election debate against Donald Trump. A new book written by CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios correspondent Alex Thompson alleges the administration covered up the extent of his decline. Despite clear signs, the former president, his family and senior White House officials pushed ahead with his re-election campaign, the book claims. The apparent cover-up allegedly allowed others in the administration – including Jill Biden, the first lady – to seize influence. Democrats have dismissed the Republican probe into Mr Biden's time in office as political theatre, with several Senators boycotting the proceedings altogether. On Wednesday, Mr Bernal ignored questions from reporters as he entered and exited the House oversight committee's hearing room on Capitol Hill. He was accompanied by his lawyer, Jonathan Su, who was a deputy White House counsel to the former president. 'This is corruption at the highest level, because if you cannot answer a simple question about Joe Biden's capabilities, then that further demonstrates that he was not in charge of his administration,' said Byron Donalds, a Florida representative, present at the deposition. A statement provided by Mr Su to the committee noted that pleading the Fifth is not evidence of wrongdoing. Mr Comer has not ruled out seeking testimony from Kamala Harris or members of Mr Biden's family. 'We're going to bring in everyone. We're moving up the line,' Mr Comer said. 'So we'll see where that takes us. But I think the possibility is very good that we'll be asking members of the family to come in.'
Telegraph
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Jill Biden aide refuses to answer questions on former president's decline
A former senior aide of Jill Biden has declined to answer questions on her husband's mental state while he was in office. Anthony Bernal, who served as chief of staff to the former first lady, pleaded the fifth amendment when questioned by House Republicans on Wednesday. Mr Bernal was subpoenaed for his testimony by the House oversight committee as part of an investigation into Joe Biden's mental decline. 'Well, unfortunately, that was quick,' said James Comer, chairman of the House oversight committee, when Mr Bernal invoked the amendment, which prevents people from being forced to testify against themselves. Mr Comer, a Kentucky representative, added: 'I believe the American people are concerned. They're concerned that there were people making decisions in the White House that were not only unelected but no one to this day knows who they were.' Democrats have been widely criticised for not facing up to the former president's deterioration. The 82-year-old pulled out of the 2024 presidential race amid pressure from his party after a disastrous appearance in the first televised election debate against Donald Trump. A new book written by CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios correspondent Alex Thompson alleges the administration covered up the extent of his decline. Despite clear signs, the former president, his family and senior White House officials pushed ahead with his re-election campaign, the book claims. The apparent cover-up allegedly allowed others in the administration – including Jill Biden, the first lady – to seize influence. Democrats have dismissed the Republican probe into Mr Biden's time in office as political theatre, with several Senators boycotting the proceedings altogether. On Wednesday, Mr Bernal ignored questions from reporters as he entered and exited the House oversight committee's hearing room on Capitol Hill. He was accompanied by his lawyer, Jonathan Su, who was a deputy White House counsel to the former president. 'This is corruption at the highest level, because if you cannot answer a simple question about Joe Biden's capabilities, then that further demonstrates that he was not in charge of his administration,' said Byron Donalds, a Florida representative, present at the deposition. A statement provided by Mr Su to the committee noted that pleading the Fifth is not evidence of wrongdoing. Mr Comer has not ruled out seeking testimony from Kamala Harris or members of Mr Biden's family. 'We're going to bring in everyone. We're moving up the line,' Mr Comer said. 'So we'll see where that takes us. But I think the possibility is very good that we'll be asking members of the family to come in.'
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House GOP subpoenas Biden aide to testify about former president's concerning mental fitness
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., issued a subpoena to have former President Joe Biden's deputy chief of staff appear before the committee on Friday to provide testimony regarding her former boss's mental state while serving in the Oval Office. Comer, who leads the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent interview requests to four key Biden White House aides, including former assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff Annie Tomasini. The former assistant's voluntary appearance was requested on May 22, 2025, and it was scheduled for her to appear before the committee on July 18, or this Friday. For unknown reasons, though, Tomasini's counsel requested Comer issue a subpoena to compel her to appear. Probe Into Biden's Alleged Mental Decline Cover-up Deepens With More Former White House Officials To Testify Comer broke down the events leading up to the subpoena in his letter to Tomasini, before directing her to the bottom of the letter for the legal request. Read On The Fox News App "The Committee seeks information about your assessment of and relationship with former President Biden to explore whether the time has come for Congress to revisit potential legislation to address the oversight of presidents' fitness to serve pursuant to its authority under Section 4 of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment, or to propose changes to the Twenty-Fifth Amendment itself," Comer wrote in the subpoena. "The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is the principal oversight committee of the U.S. House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate 'any matter' at 'any time' under House Rule X," he continued. "Further, House Rule XI clause 2(m)(1)(B) grants Committees of the House of Representatives the authority 'to require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, and documents as it considers necessary.'" Former Biden Aide Anthony Bernal Subpoenaed By House Committee After Refusing To Appear For Deposition Comer added that should Tomasini have any questions, she should call the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Majority staff. The chair previously told Fox News that these "unelected bureaucrats" had an overwhelming influence over Biden and were possibly serving as "de facto" presidents in his stead." Along with Tomasini, the committee sent interview requests to former director of the Domestic Policy Council Neera Tanden, former senior adviser to the first lady Anthony Bernal and former deputy director of Oval Office operations Ashley Williams. Comer Widens Biden 'Cover-up' Probe, Seeks Interviews With Anita Dunn And Ron Klain Bernal was also subpoenaed after refusing to voluntarily appear before the committee. Williams and Tanden have already been interviewed by committee members. The GOP effort to uncover the truth of what went on behind closed doors during the Biden administration 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. Biden White House Aides Face Oversight Deadline Amid Threat Of Subpoenas Tapper said during an interview with Piers Morgan last month 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," Tapper said. "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." 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." Fox News Digital's Peter Pinedo contributed to this article source: House GOP subpoenas Biden aide to testify about former president's concerning mental fitness
