Exclusive: Aides and former colleagues of President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden have rallied to defend their chief of staff who has been accused of sexual harassment in a statement provided to FOX News Digital.
Nearly a dozen current and former colleagues of Anthony Bernal, the president’s chief of staff and the first lady’s chief of staff, have accused him of bullying and verbal sexual harassment, including speculating about staffers’ penis sizes during conversations. He claims that he has been receiving this for many years. One person described it as an attempt to “make people uncomfortable and seize power.”
Anonymous staffers told the New York Post, which first reported the allegations, that they came forward in hopes that Mr. Bernal would be held accountable for his actions. However, some remained skeptical and labeled him “untouchable” due to his closeness with the first lady.
The White House and the first lady’s official residence did not directly respond to Fox News Digital’s inquiries about whether Bernal would be subject to an internal investigation into the matter. Instead, current and past members of Biden’s inner circle, as well as Bernal’s former colleagues, provided Fox News Digital with statements defending Biden’s character to refute the staffer’s accusations.
Former Biden aide admits to reports of bullying and sexual harassment allegations against staff by senior WH official
Annie Tomasini, Director of Oval Office Operations, and Anthony Tomasini, Chief of Staff to the First Lady, follow U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden to Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 16, 2024.・Mr. Bernal attended. Biden is visiting East Palestine, Ohio, to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Norfolk Southern train derailment. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
“Anthony is one of the most generous, honest and talented people to work in the White House,” a White House official told Fox News Digital. “In the 20 years I’ve known him, I’ve never heard him make comments like those being made. In fact, he always made it clear that colleagues at all levels were valued and appreciated. We’ve been very deliberate and intentional about making sure they feel included.”
Ron Klain, Biden’s former chief of staff, told Fox News Digital: “I have worked with Anthony for nearly 30 years and am confident that he will conduct himself with the utmost professionalism and compassion for his team.” I’ve always seen that,” he said.
Several other former colleagues of Mr. Bernal also defended him. “I have great respect for him as a leader and as a colleague,” said a former staffer who worked with the first lady in the Oval Office during the first two years of the Biden administration.
“He has a good heart and always makes decisions that put the people we serve at the forefront,” they said. “As one of the youngest staff members in the office, he consistently sought out and valued my perspective and contributions.”
Another person who has worked closely with Mr. Bernal for nearly 30 years in government and the private sector said he regularly supported his colleagues and “pushed them to exceed their own expectations to deliver extraordinary results.” “I’m doing it,” he said.
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Anthony Bernal, assistant to the president and senior advisor to the first lady, waits for President Joe Biden to return outside St. Edmund Roman Catholic Church after attending Mass on August 12, 2023 in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. can be seen. Mr. Biden is spending the weekend. At a vacation home in Rehoboth Beach. (Mandel Gann/AFP via Getty Images)
“Throughout it all, he relentlessly exemplifies that family comes first and that the highest form of public service is finding more to offer,” they added. Ta. “Anthony’s expectations are set high, but his integrity is even higher. He is the epitome of a public servant leader.”
Another longtime colleague said he had known and worked with Bernal for more than 15 years and said he had “never once heard him say an inappropriate word to anyone.” he said.
“The White House is a demanding workplace that requires the best efforts of all employees, and Anthony’s leadership has helped me and many others reach our full potential.” they said. “He challenged me to be better than I ever thought possible, and as a result, that interaction made me a much better person and colleague.”
of The New York Post reported Last week’s allegations against Bernal, who is openly gay, included sharing with staff his belief that the size of a person’s thumb correlates with the size of their penis. He is said to have engaged in similar conduct in the current White House, in his previous role on the Biden campaign, and while Biden was vice president.
“It’s about making people uncomfortable and gaining power,” one source told the Post. “It’s Me Too – classic Me Too.”
Additional sources told the Post that Bernal told a colleague during a disagreement that he had a small penis. He referred to a “bulge on a staff member in khaki” in another incident.
Mr. Hsu insists that Mr. Biden is “not exonerated” and repeatedly blocks the Democratic Party’s characterization.
First Lady Jill Biden speaks with senior adviser Anthony Bernal before a speech at the Carondere Palace in Quito, Ecuador, May 19, 2022. (Erin Schaff/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
“There was a lot of inappropriate language, including talking about other people’s attractiveness at the oddest moments and speculating about their sex lives,” a source told the Post. “That’s just sexual harassment.”
Officials also said Mr. Bernal routinely questioned people’s sexuality and sometimes tried to invade their personal lives.
After the report, a former Biden aide who requested anonymity told Fox News Digital that the allegations in the Post report were consistent with what he experienced during his administration.
“We are surprised that it took this long for so many staff members to speak out,” they said. “I would not be shocked if this empowered current and past staff moving forward.”
The former aide also believed that “more than a dozen sources appear to be sufficient to trigger that kind of internal investigation.”
Biden, meanwhile, said he would not tolerate such behavior within his orbit.
On his first day in office, Biden said he would not tolerate disrespectful employees around him. (Related news organizations)
“This is not a joke,” Biden said on his first day in office. “This is not a joke. If you work with me and I hear you disrespecting another colleague or disrespecting someone, I will call you out on the spot. I promise you I’ll fire you.” At work. “On the spot. There are no ifs, no buts.”
The White House and the first lady’s residence did not respond to questions about whether they believed Bernal’s alleged actions violated Biden’s pledge.
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The Bidens addressed the issue indirectly through a statement from Chief of Staff Jeff Zaentz, who told the Post that he and the Bidens have “full confidence in Anthony’s character.” Ta.
“His many fans in the White House know him to be polite, tough, upholding the highest standards and dedicated to public service,” Zients said. “It is unfortunate that he has become the target of baseless attacks from anonymous sources.”
