Annie Tomasini, a longtime aide to former President Joe Biden and his former deputy chief of staff, invoked the Fifth Amendment during a deposition on Capitol Hill Friday, becoming the third Biden associate in recent days to refuse to answer questions under oath before the House Oversight Committee.
Tomasini’s decision follows similar moves by Jill Biden’s former chief of staff Anthony Bernal and Biden’s personal physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor, both of whom also pleaded the Fifth before the committee.
🚨AUTOPEN COVERUP🚨
Former Biden aide Annie Tomasini has invoked her Fifth Amendment right, declining to testify about who was in charge of the White House during Biden’s presidency.
She is the third official to do so in this investigation, following Jill Biden’s advisor… pic.twitter.com/WdrowPLAUu
— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) July 18, 2025
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“There is now a pattern of key Biden confidants seeking to shield themselves from criminal liability for this potential conspiracy,” said House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) in a statement after the deposition.
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Tomasini declined to respond to questions about whether the White House directed her to lie about Biden’s health or conceal information regarding classified materials and the Biden family’s business dealings.
According to Comer, Tomasini also refused to answer whether she had advised President Biden on handling classified documents, or if she had been involved in hiding or destroying sensitive materials found at Biden’s home or office.
“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,” Comer said.
🚨 BREAKING: Watch the EXCLUSIVE footage where Annie Tomasini TAKES THE FIFTH in our deposition today.
• Did you ever advise President Biden on the handling of classified documents found in his garage?
– FIFTH!• Did President Biden ever instruct you to conceal or destroy… pic.twitter.com/VPhwR7C9yS
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) July 18, 2025
The inquiry into the former president’s handling of classified material gained traction after Special Counsel Robert Hur released a report in February 2024 concluding that Biden “willfully” retained sensitive documents from his time as vice president.
Hur did not recommend charges, citing the likelihood that a jury would view Biden as a “sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory.”
Tomasini had been among the first Biden aides sent to review documents at the Penn Biden Center in March 2021.
Classified materials were later discovered there and turned over to the National Archives by Biden’s legal team.
Tomasini initially agreed to appear voluntarily before the Oversight panel but reversed her decision earlier this week.
Her legal counsel subsequently requested a subpoena to compel her appearance, which the committee issued.
Bernal, who was asked earlier in the week whether he advised Biden to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, also invoked his Fifth Amendment rights.
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) responded by suggesting that First Lady Jill Biden herself should be brought in for questioning.
This morning, I attended the deposition of Anthony Bernal–Jill Biden’s “work husband.” These are my takeaways:
🚩He couldn’t answer A SINGLE QUESTION
🚩He refused to read his own statement
🚩This is corruption at the highest-level
🚩Joe was not in charge of his own admin
🚩Every… pic.twitter.com/moix6gOcVu— Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) July 16, 2025
Comer confirmed Friday that the committee is considering calling in Biden family members as part of the ongoing probe, which also includes scrutiny over the use of the presidential autopen.
The mechanical device, used to authorize documents bearing the president’s signature, was reportedly used to issue final pardons for members of the Biden family.
The New York Times previously reported that former White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients approved those pardons in a Jan. 19 email.
The Oversight Committee has announced a new round of hearings and interviews extending through the summer and early fall. Among those scheduled to appear are:
- Ian Sams, former spokesperson for the White House counsel’s office, on August 21
- Andrew Bates, former deputy press secretary, on September 5
- Karine Jean-Pierre, former White House press secretary, on September 12
- Jeff Zients, former White House chief of staff, on September 18
Jean-Pierre, who departed her position earlier this year after publicly revealing a planned book release and her decision to change her party affiliation to independent, will appear mid-September.
In addition to those depositions, former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain is scheduled to appear before the committee on Tuesday.
Tomasini previously served as a press secretary for then-Senator Joe Biden when he chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
She later returned to Biden’s orbit as a senior aide in the White House.
Alongside Bernal, Dr. O’Connor, and former assistant Ashley Williams, she was considered part of the team that helped control access to Biden in what some former staff have described as a protective effort dubbed “Bubble Wrap.”
House Republicans have indicated that the investigation into Biden’s handling of classified materials, autopen pardons, and cognitive health concerns is ongoing.