So Transparency! Much Credible!
The second member of the Biden White House called to testify before the House Oversight Committee has refused to answer questions. Last week, physician Kevin O'Connor invoked his Fifth Amendment right to protect against self-incrimination when asked about Joe Biden's cognitive status while in office. Today, Jill Biden's chief of staff Anthony Bernal followed suit, pleading the Fifth rather than answering any questions. And Bernal doesn't have a HIPAA excuse in his hip pocket:
A top Biden White House aide invoked his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination Wednesday morning in declining to cooperate with Republican-led efforts to investigate the former president’s mental acuity and use of the autopen.
Anthony Bernal, former First Lady Jill Biden’s onetime chief of staff, was subpoenaed by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee for his testimony related to its ongoing investigation. He is now the second person compelled to speak with House GOP investigators who has invoked the 5th Amendment: Biden’s White House physician, Kevin O’Connor, also declined to cooperate, pointing to his Constitutional rights and the obligation of maintaining doctor-patient confidentiality.
As Politico notes, Bernal had earlier refused to appear when 'invited' by the House Oversight Committee last month to discuss Biden's cognitive status and decline. Committee chair James Comer then issued a subpoena, forcing Bernal to appear. The people around Biden seem particularly reluctant to answer questions about the president's alleged incapacity, which is somewhat odd given that it would be easy to assert that Biden was in full control at all times ... if it were true.
The only reasons to worry about self-incrimination would be either perjury liability or being fingered as one of the conspirators behind a cover-up. Bernal probably has reason to worry about both, according to the Alex Thompson/Jake Tapper book Original Sin. Their sources claim that Bernal was part of a cabal that made the actual decisions in the Biden regency, which sources called the 'politburo':
A small, tight-knit group in former President Joe Biden’s inner circle was running the White House like a “politburo,” and they were the “ultimate decision-makers” as Biden’s health and cognitive function continued to decline, according to the authors of a bombshell new book.
This group, dubbed the “politburo,” included a coterie of seasoned political veterans, including Mike Donilon, Steve Ricchetti and Bruce Reed — but also family members such as first lady Jill Biden and the president’s son Hunter, the authors of “Original Sin” claim.
“In terms of who was running the White House, it’s a small group of people that have been around,” “Original Sin” author Alex Thompson told PBS’ “Washington Week” on Friday. “Some people within the administration called them the Politburo. That’s the term we used in the book.”
Former White House chief of staff Ron Klain was at times part of the “politburo,” as was former senior adviser to the president Annie Tomasini. Also on the “politburo” was the first lady’s former top adviser and “work husband,” Anthony Bernal, whom The Post previously reported created a toxic workplace environment.
Again, if none of this is true, then all Bernal has to do is testify honestly. That's also true of Kevin O'Connor, who also wants to hide behind doctor-patient privilege, but his public statements about Biden's health likely constitutes a waiver of that for purposes of testimony. They certainly have the right to plead the Fifth, and while that can't count against them in court, there is no bar on our ability to infer from that exercise that both men have something to hide.
We can probably expect everyone involved to pull the Dave Brubeck at Oversight, which could give this series a cool theme song, as well as the obvious impression of a conspiracy to cover up ... something. The way around that would be to find the weakest link and offer immunity in exchange for testimony about just how impaired Biden was, for how long, and who usurped presidential authority and power in Biden's name. I'd bet on O'Connor as the committee's first target with that strategy, but perhaps one of the Politburo members will want to cut a deal while he or she still can.
In the meantime, we can all Take Five ...
Editor’s Note: Help us continue to report the truth about corrupt politicians like Joe Biden, Anthony Bernal, Ron Klain, and the rest of the Democrat Politburo.
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