House Oversight Chair James Comer subpoenaed Jill Biden’s former aide, Anthony Bernal, after he refused to testify in the Biden cognitive decline probe.
Comer has subpoenaed Bernal to appear before the committee on July 16 at 10:00 a.m., according to an image of the document he posted on X.
The chairman began the subpoena by emphasizing Bernal’s close ties to both former President Joe Biden and former first lady Jill Biden, stating, “the Committee sought to understand if you contributed to an effort to hide former President Biden’s fitness to serve from the American people.”
“You have refused the Committee’s request. However, to advance the Committee’s oversight and legislative responsibilities and interests, your testimony is critical,” he stated. (RELATED: Trump White House Clears Way For Biden Aides To Tell All)
“To avoid any further delays, your appearance before the Committee is now compelled,” Comer said.
The subpoena further outlined that Bernal’s attorney notified the Committee that he intended to cooperate and voluntarily take part in a transcribed interview for the investigation.
It stated that on June 6, Bernal’s legal team suggested June 26 for the interview — more than two weeks later than the original May 22 date requested by the Committee. As a courtesy, the Committee accepted the new date.
“Your counsel also expressed concern over the Committee’s standard practice of providing interview topics only one week in advance, arguing that this timeline would not allow adequate time to prepare you for the interview,” Comer said.
“While the Committee disagrees — believing one week is more than sufficient — it acted in good faith and sent the interview topics to your counsel on June 13, nearly two weeks ahead of the agreed-upon interview date,” the letter continued.
Comer further detailed the timeline of the Committee’s communications with Bernal’s counsel, stating that on June 18, Bernal’s legal team requested an additional three-week delay to allow more time to prepare for the transcribed interview. (RELATED: Even David Hogg Secretly Believes Biden Wasn’t Running The White House)
The Committee rejected the request and confirmed that the transcribed interview would proceed as originally scheduled. The Committee asked Bernal’s lawyer if he were still willing to appear or if they would have to issue a subpoena.
Comer noted that within ten minutes of the Committee’s email, Bernal’s counsel responded that “no subpoena is necessary.”
However, Bernal’s lawyer allegedly told the Committee on Wednesday that Bernal was no longer willing to appear voluntarily for the June 26 interview, prompting the Committee’s subpoena.
Comer previously slammed Bernal in a Wednesday statement for backing out of testimony after previously voluntarily agreeing, accusing him of evading accountability now that executive privilege has been waived. (RELATED: House Oversight To Depose Ex-Biden Physician Kevin O’Connor)
Bernal is among four Biden administration aides — alongside Neera Tanden, Ashley Williams, and Annie Tomasini — who have previously consented to transcribed interviews.
Tanden told the committee in closed testimony on Tuesday that she authorized the use of the autopen but was unsure who gave the final approval, according to a statement from Comer.
