Former President Joe Biden’s longtime aide, Annie Tomasini, has faced a subpoena from the House Oversight Committee to testify regarding allegations of a potential cover-up involving Biden’s cognitive decline and the unauthorized use of the autopen for pardons and executive actions. This development follows similar actions against Anthony Bernal, another Biden aide, who was also required to appear for a closed-door deposition. Tomasini’s legal team has requested that Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., issue a formal subpoena for her scheduled testimony this Friday, marking another significant step in the probe led by Republican members of the House Oversight Committee.
Bernal, a former chief of staff to former First Lady Jill Biden, initially skipped his scheduled interview when the White House waived executive privilege, leading to his subpoena. However, his deposition was short-lived as Bernal invoked the Fifth Amendment to avoid answering questions. The situation reflects a broader pattern of scrutiny surrounding the Biden administration’s handling of executive actions and the former president’s mental fitness. This probe has drawn mixed reactions, with some viewing it as a partisan effort to undermine Biden while others see it as a necessary investigation into potential misconduct. The use of the autopen, a device for signing documents, has been a point of contention, raising questions about the legitimacy of certain executive actions. As the inquiry continues, Tomasini and Bernal’s testimonies are likely to play a crucial role in shaping the committee’s findings.
The investigation has been further complicated by revelations from a book co-authored by CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios political correspondent Alex Thompson, which details the inner workings of Biden’s inner circle. The book outlines how Tomasini and Bernal were deeply involved in managing the former president’s public image, often using teleprompters to help him navigate challenging moments. Their close relationship with the Biden family has been a focal point of the probe, with some critics suggesting that their loyalty to the family outweighs their allegiance to the presidency. Additionally, the probe has uncovered connections between Tomasini and Hunter Biden, further entangling the Biden family in the ongoing scrutiny. While the House Oversight Committee continues to probe these allegations, the political ramifications of their findings remain a subject of intense debate.