WASHINGTON — Annie Tomasini, a longtime Biden aide and former deputy chief of staff, became the third ex-White House official to invoke the Fifth Amendment during a Capitol Hill deposition on Friday. Her refusal to answer questions is fueling Republican claims of a cover-up regarding President Joe Biden’s cognitive health.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) accused Tomasini and other Biden confidants of shielding the president from scrutiny and potential legal exposure.
“There is now a pattern of key Biden confidants seeking to shield themselves from criminal liability for this potential conspiracy,” Comer said after the closed-door session.
Tomasini declined to answer questions on whether she had been instructed by the White House to misrepresent Biden’s mental state or to conceal classified documents found at the president’s home or office. She also refused to say whether she had participated in efforts to obscure the Biden family’s business dealings.
Initially agreeing to testify voluntarily, Tomasini reversed course earlier this week, requesting a subpoena to formalize her appearance. Her long ties to the president date back to the early 2000s when she worked as his press secretary in the Senate.
The committee is continuing its investigation into Biden’s cognitive abilities and the alleged misuse of an autopen for official duties. Oversight Republicans plan to hold further hearings this fall and have invited four more former aides for transcribed interviews.
The next witness will be Ian Sams, a former White House counsel spokesperson, scheduled for August 21. He will be followed by Andrew Bates, Biden’s former deputy press secretary.
Former press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who recently announced a political rebranding and upcoming memoir, is expected to appear on September 12.
