(NewsNation) — A third witness has pleaded the Fifth Amendment while testifying before House Republicans about former President Joe Biden‘s mental acuity and autopen use while in office.
Annie Tomasini, Biden’s former White House deputy chief of staff, invoked the protection multiple times during a closed-door deposition on Friday, according to Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., chair of the House Oversight Committee.
Tomasini allegedly declined to answer questions about Biden’s health, classified documents handling and alleged business dealings by the first family at the roughly 30-minute deposition.
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In a post on X, Comer said this is proof of a “pattern of key Biden confidants seeking to shield themselves from criminal liability for this potential conspiracy.”
“It’s unbelievable that Ms. Tomasini and others refuse to answer basic questions about President Biden’s fitness to serve,” Comer added. “It’s apparent they would rather hide key information to protect themselves and Joe Biden than be truthful with the American people about this historic scandal.”
On July 9, Biden’s White House physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, invoked his Fifth Amendment right and left his deposition shortly after arriving. Anthony Bernal, who previously served as chief of staff to former first lady Jill Biden, did the same on July 16.
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The White House and Comer allege that Biden staffers helped cover up the former president’s cognitive decline at the end of his term in office. Both Biden and Bernal have rejected the accusations.
The former president shared similar sentiments during an interview published Sunday by The New York Times, telling the outlet: “I made every decision.”
There are four more depositions on deck:
Ian Sams, former special assistant to Biden
Andrew Bates, Biden’s former deputy assistant
Karine Jean Pierre, former White House press secretary
Jeff Zients, former White House chief of staff
NewsNaion partner The Hill contributed to this report.
