Anthony Bernal, longtime adviser to Jill Biden and former chief of staff to the First Lady, invoked his Fifth Amendment rights this week during a closed-door deposition before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
The hearing, part of a growing investigation into alleged efforts to conceal former President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline, has added a new layer of scrutiny to the inner workings of the Biden White House.
According to The Hill, Bernal refused to answer multiple questions, including whether he had ever been instructed to lie about Biden’s health or whether unelected individuals — including family members — had exercised presidential authority during Biden’s final months in office.
“Anthony Bernal — Jill Biden’s Chief of Staff — just invoked the Fifth Amendment during his congressional deposition,” wrote Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) on X. “This week, new reporting confirms President Biden’s aides took unauthorized executive actions during his presidency amid his cognitive decline.”
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
Comer said it was “no surprise” that Bernal refused to testify, characterizing the silence as a move to avoid criminal liability. “This is a historic scandal, and Americans demand transparency and accountability,” Comer said.
The House Oversight Committee issued a subpoena to Bernal in June after Project Veritas released undercover video footage that appeared to show former DNC Vice Chair David Hogg accusing Bernal of exercising “unchecked power” within the White House — even suggesting he was making decisions typically reserved for senior officials or the President himself.
Bernal had originally been scheduled to appear before the committee Thursday but withdrew after it became clear he would not be granted executive privilege, following testimony earlier in the week from former Domestic Policy Council director Neera Tanden.
Bernal’s refusal to participate further fuels allegations that key White House aides — possibly including members of the Biden family — were involved in managing or concealing the president’s mental decline while continuing to exert authority behind the scenes. Whether that conduct crossed legal or constitutional boundaries remains under investigation.
