Latest news with #AnthonyBernal
Fox News
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Meet Annie Tomasini, the longtime Biden loyalist subpoenaed to testify Friday about his mental health
Annie Tomasini, former assistant to President Joe Biden and former deputy chief of staff, is the latest Biden aide subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee, as Republicans investigate the alleged cover-up of the former president's cognitive decline and the potentially unauthorized use of the autopen for pardons and executive actions. Tomasini's counsel requested that House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., issue a subpoena for her scheduled appearance before the staff-led hearing this Friday. Her former colleague, Anthony Bernal, the former chief of staff to former first lady Jill Biden, was hit with his own subpoena for a closed-door deposition on Wednesday after skipping his scheduled interview when the White House waived executive privilege. Bernal's scheduled sit-down came and went quickly, however. Bernal apparently pleaded the Fifth Amendment to the questions asked by House staffers, a source familiar told Fox News Digital. CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios political correspondent Alex Thompson revealed in their book, "Original Sin," that Tomasini and Bernal "loaded a written Q&A into a prompter ahead of a local interview – a document that the campaign had used in prep with Biden." Tomasini and Bernal brought out the teleprompter as his aides were trying to soften his blunders as Biden struggled to stay on message, according to the book. But the teleprompter fiasco became an easy attack line throughout Biden's re-election campaign, as President Donald Trump "weaved" through his myriad unscripted moments. The book described how Tomasini and Bernal grew closer to Biden during the pandemic, eventually becoming Joe and Jill Biden's most trusted aides. Tapper and Thompson describe the "intensely loyal" duo – Tomasini and Bernal – as taking on an "older-brother-and-little-sister vibe" among Biden's inner circle. Bernal and Tomasini later took on some of the residence staffers' roles in the White House. Tapper and Thompson said the aides "had all-time access to the living quarters, with their White House badges reading 'Res' – uncommon for such aides." "The significance of Bernal and Tomasini is the degree to which their rise in the Biden White House signaled the success of people whose allegiance was to the Biden family – not to the presidency, not to the American people, not to the country, but to the Biden theology," the authors wrote. Fox News Digital reported in 2023 that Tomasini was among nearly a dozen Biden aides and Cabinet members to have extensive ties to Hunter Biden, who was accused by Republicans of selling access to his father, dating back over a decade. The analysis revealed the extent of Hunter's potential reach in the White House ahead of the embattled first son's felony gun charges and subsequent pardon by his father in the final days of Biden's presidency. Tomasini was in frequent communication with Hunter, referred to him as her "brother" and often ended her emails with "LY" for "love you," according to emails dating from 2010 to 2016. Then-vice president Biden publicly announced on Dec. 20, 2010, that Tomasini was stepping down to take a position with Harvard University, and Tomasini kept Hunter clued in on the details of that position before she took it, according to emails. The month prior, on Nov. 19, 2010, she forwarded information to Hunter about Harvard's employee benefits and added, "Thanks." "Hey – I looked at benefits And they look pretty amazing. Any word on comp?" Hunter responded on Nov. 23, 2010. "I'll keep you posted. Thanks for looking at all the background Hunt," Tomasini replied. Tomasini was offered the job on Nov. 30, 2010, writing to Hunter, "Director of intergovernmental relations. > 120k ish – may be a little higher." She later thanked him and said she was going to tell his father the news. Months later, Hunter gave a speech at Harvard, but not before running the draft by Tomasini first. A source familiar with the Biden team's thinking told Fox News Digital that Trump would stop at nothing to exact retribution, calling the investigations into Biden's autopen use conspiratorial claims that attempt to slander a political opponent and undo valid presidential actions. "As an extension of this political gamesmanship, Congressional Republicans are following their leader and following suit by dragging public servants up to the Hill," the source said, calling the "dangerous" probe an "attempt to smear and embarrass" and a "partisan, coordinated effort." They said Trump's Department of Justice is "not normal" and "these times are not normal," so this investigation will "be no different."
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Longtime Joe Biden aide appears under House subpoena after Jill's 'work husband' pleads Fifth
Former Biden administration staffer Annie Tomasini is on Capitol Hill Friday after being subpoenaed by House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky. She did not say anything to reporters on her way into her closed-door deposition with investigators. Tomasini, former Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff for ex-President Joe Biden, was previously scheduled to appear for a voluntary transcribed interview on Friday. A committee aide told Fox News Digital earlier this week that Tomasini's counsel requested the subpoena, but did not say why. Comer Dismisses Biden Doctor's Bid For Pause In Cover-up Probe: 'Throwing Out Every Excuse' She is the third ex-Biden administration aide to come under subpoena in Comer's probe in recent weeks. Read On The Fox News App Comer is investigating allegations that Former President Joe Biden's former top White House aides covered up signs of his mental and physical decline while in office, and whether any executive actions were commissioned via autopen without the president's full knowledge. Biden allies have pushed back against those claims. In an interview with The New York Times on Thursday, Biden affirmed he "made every decision" on his own. Just before Tomasini, House investigators heard from Anthony Bernal, a longtime aide to ex-first lady Jill Biden. Bernal pleaded the Fifth Amendment on all questions about Biden and was out of the committee room less than an hour after going in. Lawmakers are largely not expected to attend the closed-door deposition, which is traditionally staff-led. Comer has been to several so far, and progressive firebrand Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, has made surprise appearances as well. CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios political correspondent Alex Thompson revealed in their book, "Original Sin," that Tomasini and Bernal "loaded a written Q&A into a prompter ahead of a local interview – a document that the campaign had used in prep with Biden." Tomasini and Bernal brought out the teleprompter as his aides were trying to soften his blunders as Biden struggled to stay on message, according to the book. But the teleprompter fiasco became an easy attack line throughout Biden's re-election campaign, as President Donald Trump "weaved" through his myriad unscripted moments. The book described how Tomasini and Bernal grew closer to Biden during the pandemic, eventually becoming Joe and Jill Biden's most trusted aides. Tapper and Thompson describe the "intensely loyal" duo – Tomasini and Bernal – as taking on an "older-brother-and-little-sister vibe" among Biden's inner circle. Far-left Firebrand Says She 'Never Had A Concern' About Biden's Mental State As House Probe Heats Up Bernal and Tomasini later took on some of the residence staffers' roles in the White House. Tapper and Thompson said the aides "had all-time access to the living quarters, with their White House badges reading 'Res' – uncommon for such aides." "The significance of Bernal and Tomasini is the degree to which their rise in the Biden White House signaled the success of people whose allegiance was to the Biden family – not to the presidency, not to the American people, not to the country, but to the Biden theology," the authors wrote. A source familiar with the Biden team's thinking called House Republicans' probe "dangerous" and "an attempt to smear and embarrass." "And their hope is for just one tiny inconsistency between witnesses to appear so that Trump's DOJ prosecute his political opponents and continue his campaign of revenge," the source article source: Longtime Joe Biden aide appears under House subpoena after Jill's 'work husband' pleads Fifth
Washington Post
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Biden aides look to Fifth Amendment as autopen probe widens
Facing a far-reaching probe into the inner workings of Joe Biden's White House, a growing number of his top aides are weighing invoking the Fifth Amendment, underscoring how fraught their legal predicament has become amid an onslaught of subpoenas, criminal allegations and threats from President Donald Trump and his allies. Anthony Bernal, chief of staff to Jill Biden when she was first lady, on Wednesday became the latest top official to invoke his constitutional right against self-incrimination, repeatedly telling the House Oversight Committee that he 'respectfully' declined to answer members' questions in an attempt to shield himself from being thrust further into legal jeopardy.
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Jill Biden's chief of staff invokes Fifth in GOP probe of Joe Biden's mental acuity
Anthony Bernal is the second person Biden staffer to assert their Fifth Amendment right to the GOP-led House Oversight Committee. WASHINGTON − Anthony Bernal, former chief of staff to first lady Jill Biden, invoked the Fifth Amendment and declined to answer questions at a July 16 closed-door deposition in House Republicans' investigation into President Joe Biden's mental acuity and use of an autopen. Bernal, who was a key member in Joe Biden's White House inner circle, became the second person to assert their Fifth Amendment right to the Republican-led House Oversight Committee after Dr. Kevin O'Connor, Biden's former White House physician, refused to answer questions last week. The Republican-led committee released footage of Bernal's sworn testimony after the deposition. More: Biden's doctor won't testify in Congressional investigation into his mental fitness "On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer the question, pursuant to my Fifth Amendment rights under the Constitution," Bernal told the panel when asked whether Biden was fit to exercise his presidential duties and in response to other questions posed by Republicans, including whether other unelected officials executed those duties instead. The Constitution's Fifth Amendment protects citizens from being forced to testify in official proceedings. More: Biden says he made the decisions on clemency actions granted with autopen Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, chairman of the oversight committee, in a statement alleged Biden aides "took unauthorized executive actions during his presidency amid his cognitive decline," adding that it's "no surprise that Anthony Bernal is pleading the Fifth Amendment to shield himself from criminal liability." All recent U.S. presidents including President Donald Trump have used autopens to sign some letters and documents. But Trump and House Republicans have accused Biden of being incapacitated when his aides used the signature device to sign off on pardons and commutations during the final months of his presidency. The clemency actions included a blanket pardon for his son Hunter Biden, preemptive pardons for other family members and Trump adversaries, and sweeping commutations for nonviolent drug offenders. Joe Biden, now 82, dropped out of the 2024 presidential election last July after he struggled to articulate coherent thoughts during a debate with Trump that accelerated concerns about his mental fitness. Six months after Biden left the White House, his mental acuity has been revisited in books about his presidency and is at the center of probes by House Republicans, the Department of Justice and the White House. Biden, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in May, pushed back at the Republican attacks during an interview with the New York Times, published July 13, calling Republicans "liars" and claiming all clemency actions were his decisions. Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygaarrison.
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.'
