Anthony Bernal, a key advisor to former First Lady Jill Biden, has been subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee to appear in a closed-door deposition on July 16, as part of an ongoing investigation into potential legislative reforms and changes to the Twenty-Fifth Amendment’s oversight mechanisms. The subpoena, issued by House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, seeks to gather information on Bernal’s assessment of his relationship with former President Biden, including any potential cover-ups regarding the president’s mental and physical health during his tenure. The committee’s inquiry has been heightened by earlier allegations that former White House aides may have concealed signs of Biden’s decline while in office, and whether any executive actions were taken without the president’s full knowledge.
Bernal, who has been described in a recent book as a fiercely protective aide and leader of the ‘loyalty police,’ was initially scheduled to appear for a voluntary transcribed interview in late May. However, his team and legal representatives backed out after the Trump administration waived executive privilege for him and other former White House staffers. This decision, however, did not deter the committee from issuing the subpoena, emphasizing the seriousness of the investigation. The deposition is expected to be a critical step in unraveling the complexities of the Biden administration’s operations and the potential legal ramifications of its actions.
The investigation has also drawn attention to the legal and ethical dilemmas faced by former White House aides, particularly regarding confidentiality and their obligations to the president. Kevin O’Connor, Biden’s former physician, and Ashley Williams, a longtime Biden advisor, have already testified under subpoena. O’Connor invoked the Fifth Amendment to protect patient confidentiality, a move that Comer has criticized as an attempt to shield the former president. Meanwhile, Williams, who appeared for a near-six-hour interview, added to the committee’s understanding of the administration’s inner workings. The deposition of Bernal is seen as both a continuation of this probe and a significant opportunity to gather more detailed insights into the events surrounding the Biden administration and its potential influence on legislative reforms.