A widening investigation into former President Joe Biden’s mental acuity during his time in office took a new turn Friday as Annie Tomasini, one of Biden’s closest advisors, became the third top aide to invoke the Fifth Amendment before the House Oversight Committee.
Tomasini, who served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Assistant to the President, appeared for a closed-door interview but declined to answer questions regarding her knowledge of the president’s health, classified documents found in Biden’s possession, or any role she may have played in allegedly misleading the public. Her interview reportedly lasted less than an hour, and she did not respond to press inquiries before or after the session.
She now joins Biden’s personal physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, and Jill Biden’s longtime aide Anthony Bernal in asserting Fifth Amendment protections during interviews with the committee. The pattern of silence among Biden insiders is drawing scrutiny from Republican lawmakers leading the probe into what they describe as a potential “conspiracy” to conceal Biden’s cognitive decline from the public and Congress.
House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) said Tomasini’s refusal to answer even basic questions—such as whether she was ever instructed to lie about Biden’s health—raises serious red flags.
“There is now a pattern of key Biden confidants seeking to shield themselves from criminal liability for this potential conspiracy,” Comer said in a statement. “This is no longer about political optics. It’s about accountability.”
According to Comer, Tomasini also refused to answer whether Biden or anyone else at the White House instructed her to destroy or hide classified documents found at Biden’s Delaware home. Nor would she comment on whether she was involved in concealing business dealings related to the Biden family’s finances.
Tomasini’s silence follows O’Connor’s closed-door testimony last week, in which the president’s longtime physician also refused to answer questions about Biden’s mental health evaluations. O’Connor cited both the physician-patient privilege and his constitutional rights against self-incrimination, according to his attorney, David Schertler.
In a letter obtained by media outlets, the Biden White House informed O’Connor that executive privilege would not be extended to shield him from the committee’s questions—opening the door for full cooperation, which did not materialize.
The committee has zeroed in on a series of internal decisions made in the final two years of Biden’s presidency. Among the focal points: who handled Biden’s physicals, who was responsible for communicating his health status to the public, and whether any staffers deliberately misled reporters or federal agencies about Biden’s capacity to serve.
🚨🚨🚨
The third witness in our investigation into the cover-up of President Biden’s cognitive decline and unauthorized executive actions pleaded the Fifth Amendment today. There is now a pattern of key Biden confidants seeking to shield themselves from criminal liability for…
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) July 18, 2025
Tomasini, described by former aides as one of Biden’s most trusted gatekeepers, is seen as a crucial figure in understanding how information about the president’s day-to-day condition was managed inside the West Wing.
The backdrop to this inquiry is Biden’s 2024 campaign withdrawal following a disastrous debate performance and growing public concern over his fitness for office. Since stepping aside, additional questions have emerged about who in his inner circle may have known more—and whether they took active steps to suppress that information.
Comer described the situation as a “historic scandal,” accusing the Biden administration of orchestrating a coordinated effort to conceal cognitive deterioration from the public while maintaining executive authority.
The Oversight Committee is now expected to subpoena more current and former aides, including individuals from the White House Medical Unit and National Security Council.
