House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer has issued a subpoena to compel Annie Tomasini, former Deputy Chief of Staff to President Biden, to testify about the former president’s mental fitness while in office. The subpoena is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged cover-ups regarding Biden’s cognitive decline and his decision to run for re-election. Comer cited House Rules to justify the subpoena and emphasized the need to examine executive branch oversight under the Twenty-Fifth Amendment. This marks the latest step in a broader GOP effort to scrutinize White House operations during Biden’s administration.
Comer’s letter to Tomasini outlined the committee’s objectives, including revisiting potential legislation to address the oversight of presidents’ fitness to serve. The committee has been investigating the cover-up for nearly a year, with new details about Biden’s decline prompting renewed scrutiny. The subpoena follows similar actions against other Biden aides, including Anthony Bernal, whose refusal to appear before the committee led to a subpoena as well.
The investigation comes in the wake of the release of ‘Original Sin’ by CNN host Jake Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson, which claims the Biden White House was actively controlling public perception of the president’s failing health. Tapper suggested that the actions of Biden’s aides could be ‘even worse’ than the Watergate scandal. Comer emphasized the need to understand who made key decisions during the administration and how the executive branch functioned under Biden’s leadership.
This development adds to the growing pressure on Biden’s administration as multiple GOP-led subpoenas are used to scrutinize White, which has already seen several aides testify or be subpoenaed. The probe underscores the political tensions surrounding the former president’s eligibility and the broader implications of executive branch oversight in shaping public perception of a sitting or former leader.