Anthony Bernal, the top aide to former US first lady Jill Biden, abruptly withdrew from his scheduled interview with the House Oversight Committee which is probing the alleged cognitive decline as US president of her spouse, Joe Biden.
Bernal's refusal to appear - his interview was scheduled for Thursday - was condemned by Oversight chairman James Comer of US President Donald Trump's Republican Party. Earlier this month, Trump ordered an investigation into the "decline" in Biden's mental fitness.
“Now that the White House has waived executive privilege, it’s abundantly clear that Anthony Bernal – Jill Biden’s so-called ‘work husband’ – never intended to be transparent about Joe Biden’s cognitive decline and the ensuing cover-up,. With no privilege left to hide behind, Mr. Bernal is now running scared, desperate to bury the truth. The American people deserve answers and accountability, and the Oversight Committee will not tolerate this obstruction," Comer said in an Oversight Committee statement, adding that he will issue a subpoena (summons) to compel Bernal to appear before the panel.
The statement also noted that following the White House's decision, Bernal's legal team informed the committee would not appear for the interview, having previously confirmed he would.
He is among nine former Joe Biden staffers whose executive privilege was revoked by the White House - this means that they will have to answer the Oversight panel's questions about their private conversations with Biden, unless they or the Democrat himself try to challenge the decision in court.
However, people close to Bernal said he has only requested that his testimony be rescheduled.
"Calling this a 'refusal' is misleading, when there was simply a request to reschedule the interview," they told US website Axios.
Bernal's refusal to appear - his interview was scheduled for Thursday - was condemned by Oversight chairman James Comer of US President Donald Trump's Republican Party. Earlier this month, Trump ordered an investigation into the "decline" in Biden's mental fitness.
“Now that the White House has waived executive privilege, it’s abundantly clear that Anthony Bernal – Jill Biden’s so-called ‘work husband’ – never intended to be transparent about Joe Biden’s cognitive decline and the ensuing cover-up,. With no privilege left to hide behind, Mr. Bernal is now running scared, desperate to bury the truth. The American people deserve answers and accountability, and the Oversight Committee will not tolerate this obstruction," Comer said in an Oversight Committee statement, adding that he will issue a subpoena (summons) to compel Bernal to appear before the panel.
The statement also noted that following the White House's decision, Bernal's legal team informed the committee would not appear for the interview, having previously confirmed he would.
He is among nine former Joe Biden staffers whose executive privilege was revoked by the White House - this means that they will have to answer the Oversight panel's questions about their private conversations with Biden, unless they or the Democrat himself try to challenge the decision in court.
However, people close to Bernal said he has only requested that his testimony be rescheduled.
"Calling this a 'refusal' is misleading, when there was simply a request to reschedule the interview," they told US website Axios.
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