A prominent aide, once referred to as Jill Biden鈥檚 鈥渨ork husband,鈥 has decided against testifying before Congress. This comes amidst an expanding investigation into accusations suggesting a White House cover-up concerning Joe Biden鈥檚 health.
Anthony Bernal, a longtime advisor to the former First Lady, was expected to appear before the House Oversight Committee on June 26.
The drama unfolded in Washington, DC.
Committee Chair James Comer revealed Bernal has refused to attend the transcribed interview after previously confirming that he would cooperate.
The committee is examining whether top aides to President Biden actively concealed indications of his purported cognitive issues from both the general public and subordinate staff members during his presidency.
Bernal鈥檚 abrupt refusal came just after the White House waived executive privilege protections related to the probe.
Comer stated on Tuesday, 鈥淲ith the White House now having waived executive privilege, it鈥檚 very evident that Anthony Bernal鈥擩ill Biden鈥檚 so-called 鈥榳ork husband鈥欌攏ever planned to be forthright regarding Joe Biden鈥檚 cognitive decline and the subsequent cover-up.鈥
鈥淲ith no privilege left to hide behind, Mr. Bernal is now running scared, desperate to bury the truth.鈥
Comer vowed to force Bernal鈥檚 testimony if needed, saying, 鈥淭he Oversight Committee will not tolerate this obstruction.鈥
He said a subpoena is on the table if Bernal鈥檚 decision follows the testimony of Neera Tanden, the former Staff Secretary who oversaw use of Biden鈥檚 autopen for official documents, Fox News reported.
Tanden admitted she had little direct contact with Biden despite being authorized to sign key executive actions on his behalf.
She said she would send decision memos to Biden鈥檚 inner circle and only receive them back once approved, without knowing what happened in between.
鈥淗er testimony raises serious questions about who was really calling the shots in the Biden White House amid the President鈥檚 obvious decline,鈥 Comer said.
Fox News obtained letters showing Trump鈥檚 legal team won鈥檛 allow former Biden aides to use their previous White House roles as a shield.
Trump鈥檚 Deputy Counsel Gary Lawkowski sent the notices to several former senior Biden officials.
That list includes Bernal, Ron Klain, Anita Dunn, Steve Ricchetti, Mike Donilon, Annie Tomasini, Bruce Reed, and Ashley Williams.
鈥淚n light of the unique and extraordinary nature of the matters under investigation, President Trump has determined that an assertion of executive privilege is not in the national interest,鈥 Lawkowski鈥檚 letter said.
The letter said the Biden official must testify on matters including 鈥渇itness for the office of the President鈥 and 鈥渒nowledge of who exercised executive powers.鈥
Comer claimed Bernal, along with other aides, helped 鈥渞un interference鈥 and cover for the former president.
He said during the previous Congress, Bernal and two other key aides were subpoenaed but never made available for interviews or depositions.
Comer accused the Biden White House of obstructing the committee鈥檚 work.
He added that the panel is determined to expose who was 鈥渞eally in charge鈥 during Biden鈥檚 presidency.
Bernal鈥檚 team has not issued a public response to the latest developments.
The Oversight Committee is moving forward with plans to secure additional testimony as the investigation intensifies.