Anthony Bernal, former chief of staff to Jill Biden, repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment during a closed-door deposition before the House Oversight Committee, Chairman James Comer said Wednesday.
Bernal, a longtime advisor to the former first lady, refused to answer lawmakers’ questions during the session, according to Comer’s statement on X. (RELATED: Inner Circle Of Advisors At Center Of Biden Coverup Will Testify Before House Oversight Republicans)
“This week new reporting confirms President Biden’s aides took unauthorized executive actions during his presidency amid his cognitive decline,” Comer said. “It’s no surprise that Anthony Bernal is pleading the Fifth Amendment to shield himself from criminal liability.”
🚨🚨🚨
Anthony Bernal — Jill Biden’s Chief of Staff — just invoked the Fifth Amendment during his congressional deposition.
This week new reporting confirms President Biden’s aides took unauthorized executive actions during his presidency amid his cognitive decline. It’s no…
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) July 16, 2025
“During his deposition today, Mr. Bernal pleaded the Fifth when asked if any unelected official or family members executed the duties of the President and if Joe Biden ever instructed him to lie about his health,” he continued. “This is a historic scandal and Americans demand transparency and accountability. We will continue to pursue the truth on their behalf and examine options to get the answers we need.”
Bernal previously declined to appear for a scheduled interview on June 26, part of the committee’s probe into alleged misuse of the presidential autopen and other actions by former President Joe Biden’s staff. Comer subpoenaed him after he skipped the interview.
His refusal to answer questions Wednesday came just one week after Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Biden’s former physician, also invoked the Fifth before the committee.
In a separate exchange, former DNC Vice Chair David Hogg told an undercover Project Veritas journalist that Bernal wielded considerable influence inside the Biden administration and described the real issue as the president’s insular inner circle.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Watch the moment Anthony Bernal takes the 5th at our deposition today.
• Did you advise President Biden to pardon Hunter?
– FIFTH!• Was President Biden fit to exercise the duties of President?
– FIFTH!• Did any unelected official or family member execute… pic.twitter.com/NmPQLwXrnl
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) July 16, 2025
The committee later released a video of Bernal’s deposition, including a shorter clip posted to X showing him repeatedly invoking the Fifth Amendment during the closed-door testimony on Wednesday.
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