WASHINGTON − A third aide who served under former President Joe Biden refused to answer questions before the Republican-led House Oversight Committee investigating Biden’s mental fitness and his use of the autopen in office.
The committee chairman, Rep. James Comer, R-Kentucky, wrote on X that Annie Tomasini, former deputy chief of staff to Biden, invoked her Fifth Amendment rights when asked if Biden, his family, or anyone in the White House “instructed her to lie regarding his health at any time.”
Comer said she also evaded questions regarding Biden’s handling of classified documents.
More: Jill Biden aide invokes Fifth in GOP probe of Joe Biden’s mental acuity
The Constitution’s Fifth Amendment protects citizens from being forced to testify in official proceedings. This is the third time a witness in the GOP-led investigation has invoked the Fifth Amendment.
The previous two were Anthony Bernal, former chief of staff to first lady Jill Biden, and Biden’s White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor.
“It’s unbelievable that Ms. Tomasini and others refuse to answer basic questions about President Biden’s fitness to serve,” Comer wrote on X. “It’s apparent they would rather hide key information to protect themselves and Joe Biden than be truthful with the American people about this historic scandal.”
More: Biden says he made the decisions on clemency actions granted with autopen
Questions about Biden’s health have come to the forefront in recent months after several books detailed his alleged declining cognitive and physical activity.
One such book, “Original Sin,” by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Axios’ Alex Thompson, includes information from White House aides and officials who said he “dropped off considerably,” had heavily scripted Cabinet meetings and forgot basic facts.
Trump and other Republicans have alleged that Biden’s aides used an autopen to sign off on clemency decisions without Biden’s authorization.
More: Biden’s doctor won’t testify in Congressional investigation into his mental fitness
But Biden defended himself in a July 13 New York Times interview.
“They’ve lied so consistently about almost everything they’re doing. The best thing they can do is try to change the focus and focus on something else,” Biden told the Times. “It’s consistent with Trump’s game plan all along.”
Contributing: Joey Garrison, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Third Biden aide refuses to talk in GOP ‘autopen’ probe
