Republicans on the House Oversight Committee are considering summoning former President Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden to testify before Congress as part of an expanding investigation into whether signs of Biden’s cognitive decline were concealed during his time in the White House.
“Every option’s on the table. We’re going to try to get answers. We’re going to try to do this rapidly,” said Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., when asked if the former president could be called to appear before the committee.
“We’ll decide as a committee what steps to take next and who to bring in. But I think right now every option is on the table,” Comer added.
Representative Byron Donalds, R-Fla., who attended the most recent closed-door deposition, called for sweeping subpoenas of Biden-Harris administration officials and staff.
“As far as I’m concerned, every member of the Biden administration at this point needs to be subpoenaed,” Donalds said.
“I don’t care if they were a secretary. I don’t care if they were a janitor working in there. They’ve all got to come in and answer questions.”
When asked if that included the former First Lady, Donalds responded, “Of course.”
Both Comer and Donalds were present for the testimony of Anthony Bernal, a longtime aide to Jill Biden who was subpoenaed in connection with the committee’s investigation.
Bernal is considered one of Jill Biden’s closest advisers and served in a top staff role during the Biden presidency.
“Her right-hand man – listen, Anthony Bernal was the right-hand man. That’s her guy, her chief of staff,” Donalds said.
Bernal’s appearance before the committee lasted less than an hour, after which he and his attorney exited the meeting room.
He is the fourth former White House aide to testify as part of the Oversight Committee’s probe.
The investigation is focused on allegations that Biden’s senior staff concealed signs of mental and physical decline and may have enabled the use of an autopen to authorize executive actions without Biden’s full awareness or direct input.
In a Thursday interview with The New York Times, Biden responded to the scrutiny, saying, “I made every decision” himself.
Three former aides have now been subpoenaed by the committee.
Alongside Bernal, former White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor and former Deputy Chief of Staff Annie Tomasini have also received subpoenas.
O’Connor, like Bernal, invoked the Fifth Amendment.
Tomasini was subpoenaed following a request by her legal counsel.
Comer and Donalds both stated that Bernal’s use of the Fifth Amendment could be interpreted as an admission of guilt.
Donalds called the move “stunning,” while Comer emphasized the committee’s intent to move quickly in determining next steps in the investigation.
The probe continues to expand as the committee weighs further subpoenas and considers high-profile appearances, including the possibility of bringing in the former president and former first lady for questioning.
