Jill Biden aide refuses to answer questions on former president’s decline

A former senior aide of Jill Biden has declined to answer questions on her husband’s mental state while he was in office.

Anthony Bernal, who served as chief of staff to the former first lady, pleaded the fifth amendment when questioned by House Republicans on Wednesday.

Mr Bernal was subpoenaed for his testimony by the House oversight committee as part of an investigation into Joe Biden’s mental decline.

“Well, unfortunately, that was quick,” said James Comer, chairman of the House oversight committee, when Mr Bernal invoked the amendment, which prevents people from being forced to testify against themselves.

Mr Comer, a Kentucky representative, added: “I believe the American people are concerned. They’re concerned that there were people making decisions in the White House that were not only unelected but no one to this day knows who they were.”

Democrats have been widely criticised for not facing up to the former president’s deterioration.

The 82-year-old pulled out of the 2024 presidential race amid pressure from his party after a disastrous appearance in the first televised election debate against Donald Trump.

A new book written by CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios correspondent Alex Thompson alleges the administration covered up the extent of his decline.

Despite clear signs, the former president, his family and senior White House officials pushed ahead with his re-election campaign, the book claims.

The apparent cover-up allegedly allowed others in the administration – including Jill Biden, the first lady – to seize influence.

Democrats have dismissed the Republican probe into Mr Biden’s time in office as political theatre, with several Senators boycotting the proceedings altogether.

On Wednesday, Mr Bernal ignored questions from reporters as he entered and exited the House oversight committee’s hearing room on Capitol Hill.

He was accompanied by his lawyer, Jonathan Su, who was a deputy White House counsel to the former president.

“This is corruption at the highest level, because if you cannot answer a simple question about Joe Biden’s capabilities, then that further demonstrates that he was not in charge of his administration,” said Byron Donalds, a Florida representative, present at the deposition.

A statement provided by Mr Su to the committee noted that pleading the Fifth is not evidence of wrongdoing.

Mr Comer has not ruled out seeking testimony from Kamala Harris or members of Mr Biden’s family.

“We’re going to bring in everyone. We’re moving up the line,” Mr Comer said. “So we’ll see where that takes us. But I think the possibility is very good that we’ll be asking members of the family to come in.”