Oversight Committee leader suggests potential subpoenaing of Jill Biden and Kamala Harris regarding Joe Biden's cognitive abilities
In a recent development, the House Oversight Committee is delving deeper into the investigation of former President Joe Biden's mental capacity while in office, focusing on the use of the presidential autopen for clemency actions during his final hours.
Notably, the committee has been gathering testimony from various administration officials. Dr. Kevin O’Connor, President Biden's former White House physician, and Anthony Bernal, a veteran aide who served in the Clinton, Obama, and Biden administrations, have been key figures in the investigation.
During their closed-door depositions, both Dr. O'Connor and Mr. Bernal invoked the Fifth Amendment in response to questions from Republican investigators. Mr. Bernal, who was one of four aides present at Biden's beach home in Rehoboth, Del., last July when Biden decided to drop his bid for reelection, did not read his own testimony, which was read by his lawyer.
Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida expressed disdain for Mr. Bernal's testimony, calling it "crazy." Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas said her Republican colleagues "still look like losers" after the Bernal deposition.
The committee is moving up the line in depositions, starting with lower-level staffers and moving up to those who may have directed the staffers to use the autopen. The strategy is part of a broader effort to uncover any signs of cognitive decline that were hidden from the public and whether unauthorized executive actions were taken without proper oversight.
In a letter to the committee, Mr. Bernal's lawyer argued that it is appropriate and justified for Mr. Bernal to invoke his rights under the Fifth Amendment. The letter states that invoking the Fifth Amendment in Congressional investigations is not evidence of wrongdoing, and any suggestion to the contrary would be irresponsible and wrong.
As the investigation continues, the committee is considering subpoenaing high-profile individuals, including Vice President Kamala Harris and former First Lady Jill Biden, to gather more information. Chairman James Comer supports the idea of subpoenaing these figures, stating that they should have already issued statements and conducted public relations campaigns to answer questions about the investigation.
It is also possible that other Biden family members could be called to testify as part of the investigation, although this has not been confirmed. The Oversight Committee believes that compelling testimony from these figures is essential to gathering as much evidence as possible and uncovering the truth about the investigation's focus.
- The Oversight Committee could potentially subpoena high-profile individuals, such as Vice President Kamala Harris and former First Lady Jill Biden, to provide crucial testimony as part of the ongoing investigation regarding former President Joe Biden's mental capacity, use of the presidential autopen, and clemency actions.
- A video conference or TV interview discussing this political controversy, featuring the Committee's Chairman James Comer, could soon emerge as the investigation progresses, possibly providing insights into the uncovering of any signs of cognitive decline and potential unauthorized executive actions.
- Amid ongoing political tensions and general news about the investigation, various policy-and-legislation and war-and-conflicts discussions could be sidelined temporarily, as the House Oversight Committee's investigation takes center stage in the realm of American politics.
