Zincwarrior
Diamond Member
An interesting development. Inversely, having watched many public Congress hearings and their ranting at witnesses. I would plead the Fifth and never show, even if it were a hearing discussing the greatness of wiener dogs.
Facing a far-reaching probe into the inner workings of Joe Biden’s White House, a growing number of his top aides are weighing invoking the Fifth Amendment, underscoring how fraught their legal predicament has become amid an onslaught of subpoenas, criminal allegations and threats from President Donald Trump and his allies.
Anthony Bernal, chief of staff to Jill Biden when she was first lady, on Wednesday became the latest top official to invoke his constitutional right against self-incrimination, repeatedly telling the House Oversight Committee that he “respectfully” declined to answer members’ questions in an attempt to shield himself from being thrust further into legal jeopardy.
The moment showcased the vexing position Biden’s senior aides have found themselves in as the Trump-inspired investigations into their former boss’s mental acuity have accelerated — sweeping up some of the highest-ranking officials in the Biden White House. While some aides have agreed to testify voluntarily, others are being compelled via subpoena and several are discussing with their lawyers the prospect of pleading the Fifth, according to five people familiar with the legal strategizing.
The varying approaches reflect the growing sense of angst among Biden’s allies as Trump has wielded the power of the presidency to push claims that his predecessor was mentally unfit for office. Building off the momentum generated by a best-selling book alleging a cover-up of Biden’s decline, Republicans have seized on the Fifth Amendment invocations as the latest sign of shadiness by the 82-year-old former president’s aides.
Biden aides look to Fifth Amendment as autopen probe widens
Facing a far-reaching probe into the inner workings of Joe Biden’s White House, a growing number of his top aides are weighing invoking the Fifth Amendment, underscoring how fraught their legal predicament has become amid an onslaught of subpoenas, criminal allegations and threats from President Donald Trump and his allies.
Anthony Bernal, chief of staff to Jill Biden when she was first lady, on Wednesday became the latest top official to invoke his constitutional right against self-incrimination, repeatedly telling the House Oversight Committee that he “respectfully” declined to answer members’ questions in an attempt to shield himself from being thrust further into legal jeopardy.
The moment showcased the vexing position Biden’s senior aides have found themselves in as the Trump-inspired investigations into their former boss’s mental acuity have accelerated — sweeping up some of the highest-ranking officials in the Biden White House. While some aides have agreed to testify voluntarily, others are being compelled via subpoena and several are discussing with their lawyers the prospect of pleading the Fifth, according to five people familiar with the legal strategizing.
The varying approaches reflect the growing sense of angst among Biden’s allies as Trump has wielded the power of the presidency to push claims that his predecessor was mentally unfit for office. Building off the momentum generated by a best-selling book alleging a cover-up of Biden’s decline, Republicans have seized on the Fifth Amendment invocations as the latest sign of shadiness by the 82-year-old former president’s aides.
