House Supervisor Chairman Summons Jill Biden’s Former Aide

Chairman James Comer has summoned Anthony Bernal, a former aide to Jill Biden, to provide testimony in the investigation into President Biden’s cognitive decline, after he initially refused to appear.

According to documents shared on X, Bernal has been asked to attend a committee session at 10 a.m. on July 16. Comer highlighted the significance of Bernal’s relationship with both Jill and Joe Biden, stating that the inquiry aims to determine whether Bernal had a role in the President’s efforts to conceal his fitness from the public.

Comer expressed that Bernal’s refusal is concerning, emphasizing that his testimony is crucial for the committee’s oversight and legislative duties. “Your presence is essential to prevent any more delays,” he noted.

A subpoena details that Bernal’s counsel had previously indicated a willingness to cooperate, intending to participate voluntarily in a transcribed interview. On June 6, Bernal’s legal team proposed June 26 for the interview, which the committee accepted.

Comer mentioned that Bernal’s lawyer expressed apprehensions regarding the timeline for sharing interview topics, arguing it was too short for adequate preparation. The committee maintained that it acted in good faith, providing the interview topics almost two weeks in advance of the scheduled date.

On June 18, Bernal’s legal team requested an additional three-week postponement for preparing for the interview. However, the committee turned down this request and confirmed that the interview would proceed as planned. They inquired whether Bernal’s lawyer would require a subpoena to ensure his compliance.

Within ten minutes of this communication, Bernal’s lawyer reportedly responded that a subpoena would not be necessary. Yet, shortly afterwards, it was indicated that Bernal was no longer willing to attend of his own accord, prompting the need for the subpoena.

Comer criticized Bernal for allegedly evading responsibility, especially since he had previously waived enforcement privileges to facilitate his testimony. Along with Bernal, three other aides from the Biden administration—Neela Tanden, Ashley Williams, and Annie Tomasini—had previously agreed to participate in the transcribed interviews.

Tanden testified that she allowed the use of the autopen but was uncertain about who granted final approval for its use, as noted by Comer.