Bernal’s appearance followed subpoenas issued after he and his legal team backed out of a previously agreed-upon voluntary interview, citing legal protections. His decision to plead the Fifth puts him in the same category as Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Biden’s former White House physician, who also refused to answer committee questions last week, even those unrelated to doctor-patient confidentiality.
A committee aide responded sharply to O’Connor’s silence:
“Doctor-patient objection would have meant he would have stayed and answered questions that didn’t implicate such privilege. Instead, he took the Fifth to all and any potential questions.”
Anthony Bernal Dubbed ‘Loyalty Police’
According to Original Sin, by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, Bernal was known in the White House as the head of the “loyalty police.”
The book details his fierce protection of Jill Biden and his disdain for other staffers. This reputation only intensifies Republican suspicion that Bernal may have been part of efforts to conceal the president’s health issues.
