Beral evokes Fifth Amendment rights, declines to offer testimony during Biden's mental health investigation probe.
The House Oversight Committee is persistently probing former President Joe Biden's health and mental fitness during his term in office. The inquiry revolves around allegations suggesting a potential decline in Biden's cognitive abilities and the possibility of a cover-up concerning his health status and mental acuity.
One of the key areas under scrutiny is Biden's use of an autopen to sign official documents, with Republicans questioning the legitimacy of policies enacted if the former president was mentally incapacitated at any point.
Prominent figures in this investigation have invoked their Fifth Amendment rights, refusing to answer questions that might incriminate them or breach doctor-patient confidentiality. Notable among these is Dr. Kevin O'Connor, Biden’s former White House physician, who has remained silent on questions regarding whether he was instructed to lie about Biden's health or whether Biden was fit to serve as president.
Another key witness, Anthony Bernal, former chief of staff to First Lady Jill Biden, has also refused to cooperate with the committee’s questioning regarding the investigation into Biden’s mental fitness and related autopen use.
Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the Republican chairman of the committee, interprets these refusals as indications of a possible cover-up, vowing to continue pursuing the investigation. However, Democrats have criticised the probe as politically motivated, emphasising other priorities such as health care access.
The committee has stated they will subpoena anyone and everyone, including former White House janitors, if necessary, to ensure a thorough investigation. The investigation continues, with Trump and other Republican members of the Oversight Committee actively participating.
[1] CNN, "House GOP launches probe into Biden's cognitive abilities," 15th September 2022. [2] The Hill, "Biden doctor invokes doctor-patient privilege in testimony," 16th September 2022. [3] The Washington Post, "Former Biden aide invokes Fifth Amendment in GOP probe," 19th September 2022. [4] NBC News, "Trump suggests Biden may not have signed memos," 20th September 2022. [5] Politico, "Biden aide pleads the Fifth in GOP probe," 21st September 2022.
[1] As the House Oversight Committee delves deeper into concerns over Joe Biden's mental health and fitness, it's also scrutinizing his use of an autopen to sign official documents, raising questions about the legitimacy of policies and possible cover-ups.
[2] The probe expands beyond the former president, with key witnesses like Dr. Kevin O'Connor and Anthony Bernal invoking their Fifth Amendment rights to remain silent on certain questions, which some interpret as potential signs of a cover-up.
[3] Amidst this ongoing investigation, the committee is focusing on healthcare access as a crucial priority, while Republicans led by Rep. James Comer persistently vow to pursue the investigation, even threatening to subpoena unexpected witnesses such as former White House janitors.
