Washington, D.C. – House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer announced plans to issue a subpoena for top Biden aide Anthony Bernal, citing what he described as obstruction by the White House in an ongoing investigation into presidential correspondence procedures and internal recordkeeping.
“The American people deserve answers and accountability, and the Oversight Committee will not tolerate this obstruction,” Comer said in a statement. “I will promptly issue a subpoena to compel Anthony Bernal’s testimony before the Committee.”
Comer’s announcement comes on the heels of testimony delivered by Neera Tanden, the former White House staff secretary and a key figure in the internal process of managing presidential documents. Tanden, who appeared before the committee earlier this week, reportedly told lawmakers that she had limited personal interaction with President Biden despite having significant responsibility over the autopen—a device used to sign official documents on behalf of the president.
“Just yesterday, we heard from our first witness, Neera Tanden, the former staff secretary who controlled the Biden autopen,” Comer said during a hearing. “Ms. Tanden testified that she had minimal interaction with President Biden, despite wielding tremendous authority.”
The Oversight Committee’s probe is centered on concerns about transparency, recordkeeping, and who is authorized to act on behalf of the president in an official capacity. Republicans on the committee argue that the Biden administration has not been forthcoming with details related to who is making decisions behind the scenes.
The White House has not yet publicly responded to the subpoena threat or Comer’s comments.
The inquiry into presidential document practices has become a flashpoint in ongoing partisan battles over executive power, transparency, and administrative procedure. As the investigation unfolds, the Oversight Committee is expected to call additional witnesses and review internal communications related to the use of the autopen and other delegation of authority within the White House.
