WASHINGTON — House Republicans subpoenaed a top aide to former President Joe Biden to testify about whether there was an “effort to hide” the 46th commander-in-chief’s cognitive decline while he was in office.
Anthony Bernal, the ex-president’s current chief of staff as well as the top adviser and “work husband” to his wife Jill Biden, informed the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday that he wouldn’t sit voluntarily for a transcribed interview about the alleged cover-up.
The “bulldog” Democratic operative was — and remains — extremely close to the Biden family and colleagues told The Post they generally took him at his word when he relayed the then-president or first lady’s alleged wishes.
Bernal had been slated to appear on Thursday but pulled out after the Trump White House counsel’s office informed former Domestic Policy Council director Neera Tanden, who gave evidence Tuesday, that she wouldn’t be granted executive privilege.
The power keeps White House and presidential communications confidential, but can only be granted by the current administration.
Tanden, who as staff secretary for nearly two years was one of just a small handful of officials who held the power to append Biden’s signature to documents using an autopen, testified that she would receive feedback from other senior aides on what needed to be signed and rarely interacted directly with Biden, according to a summary circulated by Republicans.
Bernal could make no such claims of distance. He traveled with the first family on vacations and emerged as one of the final trusted advisers after the then-president’s dismal debate last June against President Trump, which triggered a rebellion from fellow Democrats that forced the aging leader to step aside.
The subpoena demands that Bernal appear for a deposition on July 16.
Comer last year subpoenaed Bernal as part of his oversight investigations, but the White House declined to cooperate. This time, failure to comply could, in theory, result in a contempt citation enforced by the Justice Department, followed by criminal charges.
Former Biden White House officials told The Post that they hope that Bernal will be grilled on other topics apart from just his knowledge of the ex-president’s cognitive decline — including about allegations he lewdly harassed and bullied colleagues in the West Wing.
Bernal’s lawyer Jonathan Su, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment, had asked to delay Thursday’s scheduled interview to prepare his client for questioning based on topics provided by the Oversight panel, the subpoena’s cover letter shows.
