Jill Biden aide invokes Fifth to decline testimony in Republican investigation

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP

Updated 1:43 PM EDT, July 16, 2025


WASHINGTON (AP) — A former senior aide to Jill Biden on Wednesday became the second person to invoke the Fifth Amendment and decline to answer questions from House Republicans who are investigating President Joe Biden’s mental state and use of the autopen while in office.

Anthony Bernal, who previously served as chief of staff to former first lady Jill Biden, was subpoenaed for his testimony by the House Oversight Committee. He declined to answer questions, invoking the protections that prevent people from being forced to testify against themselves in government proceedings.

“Well, unfortunately, that was quick,” said Rep. James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, after the deposition ended. “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.”

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. Su in a statement provided to the committee noted that pleading the Fifth is not evidence of wrongdoing.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-autopen-investigation-anthony-bernal-trump-77aaa5ae0e4c73f0e432bf1c81558bea

[odins folly]

1. Good

Fuck those people

[MLWR]

2. "They're concerned that there were people making decisions in the White House that were not only unelected..."

He must mean like Stephen Miller...

[berniesandersmittens]

10. Or musk nt

[bmichaelh]

3. Spousal privilege

Is not Dr. Biden protected anyway through spousal privilege.

These MAGA reps are just stupid.

[wishstar]

6. She is, but this was her aide who was forced to testify

[Shellback Squid]

4. he invoked the 5th almost 500 times, sure he has nothing to hide

https://news.wttw.com/2022/08/10/trump-says-he-took-fifth-new-york-civil-investigation

[Grins]

5. "I believe the American people are concerned!" Fact not in evidence.

Show me where “the American people are concerned” one whit about autopen use by ANY administration. Google and try to find out, and you get hit by a mountain of “the American people” wanting the dirt on Jeffrey Epstein!

I hate it when I hear Republicans mouth off, “I believe the American people are…” or “What the American people want…”. It’s always used to deflect, not answer a question aimed at their blackened heart, or to push some squat they want to push.

[Marthe48]

12. Invoking the American people is like invoking God

in this context, both are used to incite the maga base. The rwnj are debasing both because they don't believe in either.

[Oeditpus Rex]

7. This has to be the most USELESS

investigation the right-wingers have ever held, particularly at a time when so many legitimate issues warrant serious investigation. It serves only as more evidence that right-wingers aren't concerned with the people or country they supposedly represent, but only themselves. The best they can get from it is "Ha ha, told ya, libs!"

Meanwhile, whose mental and emotional stability really needs to be investigated, hmmm?

[angrychair]

8. Uhhh...they do realize

He isn't president anymore and this line of questioning is not relevant or nah?

[vapor2]

15. YUP, they need to investigate the mental illness of 47

[AllaN01Bear]

9. good for her .

[ancianita]

11. Excellent occasion to use rule of law against lawless criminalizers of the last, best administration of our lifetimes.

[Raven123]

13. Comer is seeking relevance.

He will never find it

[AZLD4Candidate]

14. Did he buy the autopen with all that China money, you boob?

[Paladin]

16. Well done. (nt)

[Orrex]

17. Considering how every GOP accusation is a confession...

What are we to make of their bleating claims that President Biden was the victim of elder abuse?