Anthony Bernal, the top aide to former First Lady Jill Biden, has emerged as one of the most influential figures within the Biden administration, according to a new book that describes his role as a powerful enforcer of loyalty. The book, Original Sin by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson, highlights Bernal’s ability to cultivate an atmosphere of fear and distrust among Biden’s senior aides. The authors describe Bernal as the leader of the ‘loyalty police,’ a nickname that reflects his relentless pursuit of allies who remained loyal to the Biden family rather than to the presidency itself. The book claims Bernal often acted as an enforcer, using loyalty as a weapon to weed out those who questioned his leadership or his loyalty to the Bidens.
The accusations of Bernal’s aggressive tactics are not new, but the book intensifies them by suggesting that his behavior significantly impacted the internal dynamics of the Biden White House. The authors argue that Bernal’s strict control over the White House’s political orbit allowed him to shape the administration’s priorities and suppress dissent. One former Biden aide told Tapper and Thompson that Bernal would not be welcome at their funeral, a comment that underscores the deep mistrust and animosity that surrounded his tenure. The book also describes Bernal as someone who would freely criticize his colleagues and was described by some as the ‘worst person they had ever met.’
While Bernal’s influence in the administration was significant, the book also raises questions about the administration’s handling of concerns about Biden’s cognitive decline. During the pandemic, as Biden withdrew from the campaign trail, Bernal and his colleague, Annie Tomasini, took on roles that typically belong to senior residence staff, gaining unprecedented access to the White House’s living quarters. This access, the authors suggest, played a part in the administration’s ability to manage public perceptions of Biden’s health.
Despite these allegations, Bernal’s supporters argue that the book’s portrayal is skewed and lacks a balanced perspective. A former White House staffer who was fired back against the book’s claims said that many of the vignettes described in the book are either false, exaggerated, or ignore viewpoints that do not fit the narrative the authors are pushing. This former aide emphasized that Bernal was a strong leader with high standards and a mentor to many, describing him as the type of person one would want on a team – someone who is strategic, effective, and cares deeply about the people he manages.