- The aides are Anthony Bernal, Annie Tomasini, and Ashley Williams
- The White House hit back describing the move as a ‘baseless political stunt’
- READ MORE: Biden faces more calls to step down from reelection campaign
Republicans on Wednesday subpoenaed three senior White House aides demanding that they answer questions about President Joe Biden‘s health and fitness for office.
Republicans on the House Oversight Committee want to grill Biden’s top aide Anthony Bernal, deputy chief of staff, Annie Tomasini, and senior adviser Ashley Williams.
The committee had previously tried to question the three as part of a probe into Biden’s mishandling of classified documents, a move blocked by the White House.
‘The White House has shielded three key aides from testifying about President Biden’s mishandling of classified documents and now we’ve learned through reporting these same aides are also seeking to cover up President Biden’s declining cognitive state inside the White House,’ said committee chairman Rep. James Comer.
‘President Biden is clearly unfit for office, yet his staff are trying to hide the truth from the American people. Key White House staff must come before our committee so we can provide the transparency and accountability that Americans deserve.’
Republicans on Wednesday subpoenaed three senior White House aides demanding that they answer questions about President Joe Biden ‘s health and fitness for office. They included Anthony Bernal, deputy chief of staff, and senior adviser Ashley Williams
The three maintain a low-profile but are among the Bidens’ closest aides. Two have access to their official residence and often accompany them to their Delaware homes.
In the meantime Biden is fighting for his political life as a growing chorus of Democrats calls on him not to seek reelection.
The subpoenas will keep pressure on the president although it is unusual for committees to resort to legal arm twisting before offering a voluntary invitation to testify.
‘Like everything Congressman Comer has done over the past year, these subpoenas are a baseless political stunt intended for him to get media attention instead of engage in legitimate oversight,’ said Ian Sams, a White House spokesman.
‘His partisan attacks on the president have been discredited, and now he continues to debase the House by weaponizing subpoenas to get headlines instead of seeking information through the proper constitutional process.’
Comer lead an impeachment inquiry into Biden that included interviewing members of his family. But it led nowhere and Democrats accused him of leading a fishing expedition.
In the meantime, Biden is locked in a battle for survival.
Hollywood star George Clooney, a friend of former President Barack Obama, was the latest high-profile figure to call for Biden to step aside.
He is under intense scrutiny after a bumbling debate performance against Donald Trump sent shockwaves through his party.
The third aide, Annie Tomasini, is seen here with President Joe Biden in 2022
Although he swept to an easy victory in the Democratic nomination race, there is deep unease about his fitness to win reelection in November.
It takes presidential politics into uncharted territory, with the White House press secretary forced to deny he is suffering from Parkinson’s disease or hydrocephaly.
On Tuesday evening Karine Jean-Pierre was forced to admit she had misled reporters, when she initially said a meeting between a leading neurologist and the president’s personal physician was not related to Biden’s health.
It was the second time she had had to issue a clarification in a matter of days, heightening the sense of crisis.
Comer asked the aides to respond to the subpoenas by July 17 and that they sit for interviews later this month.
