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Republicans on the House Oversight Committee are intensifying their investigation into the Biden administration, considering the possibility of subpoenaing former First Lady Jill Biden as part of a broader probe into the handling of former President Joe Biden’s cognitive health while in office.
Committee Chairman James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, has stated that “every option’s on the table” as the committee seeks answers regarding whether signs of the former president’s mental decline were concealed or misrepresented. Comer has not ruled out calling both Joe and Jill Biden to testify, indicating that decisions about next steps and witnesses will be made collectively by committee members.
Representative Byron Donalds of Florida, who recently attended a closed-door deposition related to the investigation, urged for wide-ranging subpoenas targeting numerous Biden administration officials and staff. “Every member of the Biden administration at this point needs to be subpoenaed,” Donalds said, emphasizing that the inquiry should extend to all levels of staff regardless of rank. When pressed about whether this includes the former First Lady, Donalds affirmed, “Of course.”
The investigation has recently included testimony from Anthony Bernal, a longtime aide and close adviser to Jill Biden who served in a senior White House staff position. Bernal, described by Donalds as Jill Biden’s “right-hand man” and chief of staff, appeared before the committee for less than an hour. He is the fourth former White House aide to testify as part of this ongoing probe.
Significantly, Bernal, along with other former aides such as Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the former White House physician, and Annie Tomasini, a former Deputy Chief of Staff, have invoked the Fifth Amendment during their testimonies, declining to answer questions on the grounds of self-incrimination.
Comer and Donalds both interpreted Bernal’s use of the Fifth Amendment as potentially indicative of guilt, with Donalds calling the decision “stunning.” Comer stressed that the committee intends to move swiftly in determining the next phase of the investigation.
The core of the probe centers on allegations that Biden’s senior staff may have concealed signs of the former president’s cognitive and physical decline. There are claims that aides may have enabled or permitted the use of an autopen—a device that can replicate a signature—to authorize executive actions without Biden’s full awareness or direct involvement.
In response to these allegations, Joe Biden has publicly maintained that he personally made all decisions during his presidency, rejecting claims that he was uninformed or incapacitated.
As the investigation unfolds, the House Oversight Committee is weighing further subpoenas and contemplating the possibility of calling the former president and former First Lady to provide testimony. The expanding scope of the probe highlights heightened tensions as Republicans scrutinize the transparency and accountability of Biden’s White House.
Meanwhile, some lawmakers are pressing for comprehensive inquiries into the entire Biden administration, underscoring a demand for accountability at every level.
The committee’s aggressive approach signals that the investigation will remain a prominent political issue moving forward, with potential implications for both the current administration and broader questions about executive transparency and fitness for office.
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