Monday, February 23, 2026

Third Biden Aide Invokes Fifth Amendment in Cognitive Decline Probe.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Annie Tomasini, a senior advisor and deputy chief of staff to former President Joe Biden, invoked the Fifth Amendment during a House Oversight deposition regarding Biden’s cognitive decline.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Annie Tomasini, House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-KY), and other Biden aides who also pleaded the Fifth.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The closed-door deposition occurred during the House Oversight Committee’s investigation on July 18, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There is now a pattern of key Biden confidants seeking to shield themselves from criminal liability for this potential conspiracy,” said Rep. James Comer.

🎯IMPACT: Tomasini is the third senior Biden White House aide to plead the Fifth, raising further questions about the former presidential administration’s transparency regarding the octogenarian Biden’s health and whether he knew decisions were being authorized via autopen in his name.

IN FULL

Annie Tomasini, a senior advisor and deputy chief of staff to former President Joe Biden, pleaded the Fifth Amendment during a closed-door deposition, according to House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY). The former senior Biden White House aide had initially agreed to voluntarily participate in the deposition, but her attorney later reversed course and requested that the committee issue a subpoena. The deposition was slated to focus on Biden’s mental decline and allegations that presidential directives—including pardons—were issued without his knowledge.

“There is now a pattern of key Biden confidants seeking to shield themselves from criminal liability for this potential conspiracy,” Chairman Comer stated on X (formerly Twitter). Tomasini reportedly refused to answer questions about whether Biden or anyone at the White House instructed her to lie about his health, handle classified documents, or conceal information about Biden family business dealings.

Tomasini is the third Biden aide to invoke the Fifth Amendment in this investigation. The former chief of staff to former First Lady Jill Biden, Anthony Bernal, and former Biden White House physician Kevin O’Connor also declined to answer questions under oath earlier this month. The National Pulse has previously reported that Bernal and Tomasini comprised a “politburo” of aides who controlled the Biden White House and formed a protective bubble around Joe Biden.

Comer initially issued a subpoena to Tomasini, accusing her of “running interference” for Biden as concerns about his mental state grew. Notably, ousted Democratic National Committee (DNC) Vice Chairman David Hogg and Biden-era White House staffer Deterrian Jones were caught in a secret recording discussing the outsized influence of the cadre of senior White House aides, especially Tomasini and Bernal.

“The bigger issue was, like, the inner circle that was around Biden,” Hogg said, adding: “Like, Jill Biden’s chief of staff had an enormous amount of power.” Jones went on to describe Bernal, specifically, as a “scary… shadowy, Wizard of Oz type figure.”

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Biden’s Doctor Is Slated to Testify on His Cognitive Decline.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Former President Joe Biden’s physician, Kevin O’Connor, is slated to testify before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday after being subpoenaed by Chairman James Comer (R-KY). O’Connor, who will face questions over the octogenarian Democrat’s cognitive decline, requested his appearance be delayed in a letter sent to Chairman Comer over the weekend, but the committee rejected his request.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Kevin O’Connor, Joe Biden, President Donald J. Trump, House Oversight Committee, and Chairman James Comer.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The testimony is scheduled for Wednesday, July 9, 2025, following a subpoena issued in June.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Joe Biden’s top enablers can no longer hide behind the power of the presidency. Americans are fed up with the lies about Biden’s obvious decline.” – James Comer

🎯IMPACT: The testimony could shed light on Biden’s health and decision-making during his presidency, with implications for policies enacted during his term.

IN FULL

Dr. Kevin O’Connor, former President Joe Biden’s physician, is set to testify before the House Oversight Committee regarding Biden’s physical and cognitive health during his presidency. The testimony comes after President Donald J. Trump waived executive privilege for O’Connor, citing the “unique and extraordinary nature” of the investigation.

The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed O’Connor in June as part of its inquiry into allegations of a “cover-up” of Biden’s cognitive decline. Concerns about Biden’s mental fitness grew after a disastrous debate performance last year, coupled with post-presidency reports of his prostate cancer diagnosis. Many believe there was a broader cover-up of Biden’s mental and physical frailty before he left office, with a core group of White House staff acting on his behalf without his knowledge.

Over the weekend, O’Connor and his attorneys requested that the House Oversight Committee delay his testimony to a later date in July. According to O’Connor, the delay was to give more time to finalize an agreement with the committee “that will protect the very substantial privilege and confidentiality interests of Dr. O’Connor and former President Biden.” However, Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) rejected the request.

“If Biden’s inner circle fails to comply with our subpoenas, we will initiate contempt of Congress,” Comer wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The Oversight chairman’s warning appeared directed not only at O’Connor but also top Biden White House staff such as Anthony Bernal—a senior aide to former First Lady Jill Biden. Bernal abruptly withdrew from his testimony, slated for late June, after President Trump waived his ability to invoke executive privilege.

As of publication, it is unclear whether Dr. O’Connor intends to abide by the subpoena and testify as scheduled.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Top Biden Aide Doesn’t Know Who Approved Autopen Signatures.

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WHAT HAPPENED: A top aide to former President Joe Biden testified before Congress regarding the use of an autopen to sign presidential directives and the approval process behind it, acknowledging she was unsure who actually gave final approval for the autopen’s use.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Neera Tanden, former director of Biden’s Domestic Policy Council, and members of the House Oversight Committee.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Tanden testified in a closed-door session on Tuesday at the U.S. Capitol.

💬KEY QUOTE: “[Tanden] explained that to obtain approval for autopen signatures, she would send decision memos to members of the President’s inner circle and had no visibility of what occurred between sending the memo and receiving it back with approval” – House Oversight Chairman James Comer.

🎯IMPACT: The testimony sheds light on the internal processes surrounding Biden’s use of autopen signatures and raises questions about transparency and oversight.

IN FULL

Neera Tanden, a senior aide to former President Joe Biden, testified before the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday in a closed-door session. Serving as Domestic Policy Council director and staff secretary from 2021 to 2023, Tanden was empowered to authorize the use of the autopen to sign orders and legislation on behalf of the President, but she admitted to the committee that she was unaware of who actually gave final approval before its use. The autopen was used, especially in the final year of Biden’s term in office, to sign numerous pardons, memos, executive orders, and other presidential directives.

According to Tanden’s testimony, the approval process for using the autopen was inherited from previous administrations. She explained that decision memos were sent to Biden’s inner circle for approval. However, Tanden reiterated that she was unaware of who specifically gave the final clearance and admitted that she had limited interaction with Biden during her tenure.

When asked whether she had discussed Biden’s health or fitness to serve as President, Tanden denied having such conversations. Lawmakers provided a list of officials she could have potentially discussed these issues with, but Tanden responded “no” to each name, according to sources familiar with the testimony.

Speaking to reporters after the session, Tanden said, “I just spoke with the House Oversight Committee, Majority and Minority Council. I answered every question, was pleased to discuss my public service and it was a thorough process. And I’m glad I answered everyone’s question.” When asked if there was any effort to conceal Biden’s condition, she responded, “Absolutely not.”

The investigation continues as the Oversight Committee plans to hear testimony from other key figures, including Biden’s former White House physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, and several other senior advisors. The National Pulse reported on Wednesday that Anthony Bernal, a senior adviser to Jill Biden described as the “Wizard of Oz” who ran the Biden White House, is refusing to testify, though Oversight chairman James Comer (R-KY) said the committee will move to subpoena Bernal. Additional aides facing subpoenas are Biden’s former chief of staff, Ron Klain, and communications advisor Anita Dunn.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Who is Biden’s ‘Wizard of Oz’ Refusing to Testify Before Congress?

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Anthony Bernal, a senior adviser to Jill Biden, is refusing to testify before the House Oversight Committee regarding Joe Biden’s cognitive decline and potential misuse of the autopen.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Anthony Bernal, Representative James Comer (R-KY), Neera Tanden, and other Biden government aides.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Bernal declined to testify on June 26, 2025, following the White House Counsel’s Office announcement on June 25, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “With no privilege left to hide behind, Mr. Bernal is now running scared, desperate to bury the truth.” – Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer.

🎯IMPACT: The Oversight Committee plans to subpoena Bernal to compel testimony as part of the investigation into Biden’s fitness for office.

IN FULL

Anthony Bernal, a senior adviser to Jill Biden described as the “Wizard of Ozwho ran the Biden White House, is refusing to testify in the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into former President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline and potential misuse of the autopen. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) announced on Wednesday that Bernal declined to appear for a June 26 interview, despite the White House waiving his executive privilege.

Comer criticized Bernal’s decision, stating, “Now that the White House has waived executive privilege, it’s abundantly clear that Anthony Bernal—Jill Biden’s so-called ‘work husband’—never intended to be transparent about Joe Biden’s cognitive decline and the ensuing cover-up. With no privilege left to hide behind, Mr. Bernal is now running scared, desperate to bury the truth. The American people deserve answers and accountability, and the Oversight Committee will not tolerate this obstruction. I will promptly issue a subpoena to compel Anthony Bernal’s testimony before the Committee.”

Bernal had initially agreed to participate in a transcribed interview. However, following the White House Counsel’s Office announcement that executive privilege for nine former Biden aides had been waived, Bernal’s legal team informed the committee he would no longer appear.

Comer also referenced testimony from Neera Tanden, the former White House staff secretary, who testified that she had minimal interaction with President Biden despite holding significant authority over the autopen process. Comer noted, “Her testimony raises serious questions about who was really calling the shots in the Biden White House amid the president’s obvious decline. We will continue to pursue the truth for the American people.”

Bernal is one of four Biden government aides, including Neera Tanden, Ashley Williams, and Annie Tomasini, who had previously agreed to transcribed interviews. Kevin O’Connor, Biden’s former White House doctor, is scheduled to testify in a closed-door deposition on July 9.

A secret recording of now-former Democratic National Committee (DNC) Vice Chair David Hogg and Biden White House staffer Deterrian Jones, covered by The National Pulse in Ma,y shows the pair describing Bernal as wielding “an enormous amount of power” and “scary.”

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Biden’s White House Doctor to Testify in Mental Health Probe.

PULSE POINTS

WHAT HAPPENED: Dr. Kevin O’Connor, former White House physician to Joe Biden, will testify before the House Oversight Committee after being subpoenaed.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Rep. James Comer (R-KY), Neera Tanden, Anthony Bernal, Ashley Williams, Annie Tomasini, and the House Oversight Committee.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Scheduled for July 9 before the House Oversight Committee.

🎯IMPACT: The investigation seeks to determine whether Biden’s cognitive decline influenced decision-making in his administration.

IN FULL

Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the former White House physician who treated then-President Joe Biden, is set to appear for a deposition before the House Oversight Committee on July 9. This was confirmed by a source familiar with the committee’s schedule. O’Connor agreed to testify following a subpoena issued by Rep. James Comer (R-KY), the committee’s chairman.

Comer is leading an investigation into allegations that Democrat staffers in the White House worked to cover up Biden’s cognitive decline while in office. The inquiry also focuses on Biden’s use of an autopen for official government business.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) previously ruled in 2005 that autopen use is legal, and a federal appeals court upheld this in 2024. However, questions have arisen as to whether Biden was aware of certain orders being signed via autopen in his name. Notably, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has publicly spoken about an incident where the octogenarian Democrat appeared unaware that he had issued an executive order halting liquid natural gas exports.

In addition to O’Connor, the Oversight Committee has scheduled interviews with former Biden White House aides Neera Tanden, Anthony Bernal, Ashley Williams, and Annie Tomasini. Unlike O’Connor, these aides agreed to interviews without being subpoenaed.

A former Biden official, speaking anonymously with the media, denied allegations that decisions were made without Biden’s involvement, stating: “Any accusation that President Biden was not making decisions is false. President Biden made the decisions about the pardons and the executive orders he issued, and the legislation he signed into law.”

The Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee has also shown interest in Biden’s mental fitness. Its first public hearing on the matter did not include witnesses with direct knowledge of Biden’s decision-making process.

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WATCH: Secret Recording of Hogg Meeting Reveals ‘Wizard of Oz’ Who Ran Biden White House.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: A secret recording published by Project Veritas captured Democratic National Committee (DNC) Vice Chair David Hogg and Biden-era White House staffer Deterrian Jones discussing the “enormous” power of Jill Biden’s chief of staff, Anthony Bernal.

👤Who’s Involved: David Hogg, Deterrian Jones, Anthony Bernal, Jill Biden, the DNC.

🧾Key Quote: “Jill Biden’s chief of staff had an enormous amount of power… that was, like, an open secret,” Jones says.

⚠️Fallout: The recording reinforces prior reports that a tight-knit inner circle around Biden—dubbed a “politburo”—functioned as the real power in his White House.

📌Significance: The leak adds fuel to concerns that the Biden presidency operated as a managed facade, with unelected aides and insiders pulling the strings while Biden’s cognitive decline deepened.

IN FULL:

A secret recording of a meeting with David Hogg shows the Democratic National Committee (DNC) vice chair and Deterrian Jones, an official at the Joe Biden-era White House Office of Digital Staff, discussing the “enormous power” wielded by Jill Biden’s chief of staff.

“The bigger issue was, like, the inner circle that was around Biden,” Hogg says in the Project Vertitas recording. “Like, Jill Biden’s chief of staff had an enormous amount of power.”

“That was, like, an open secret,” Jones says of the former First Lady’s chief lieutenant, Anthony Bernal. “I would avoid him. He was scary,” Jones adds, referring to Bernal as a “shadowy, Wizard of Oz type figure.”

“[H]e wielded an enormous amount of power, and I can’t stress to you [enough] how much power he had at the White House.”

The recording follows revelations about a “politburo” of aides, including Mike Donilon, Steve Ricchetti, Bruce Reed, Ron Klain, Anthony Bernal, and Annie Tomasini, said to have effectively run the White House as Biden’s cognitive impairment became more pronounced, controlling press and even Cabinet access to the elderly Democrat.

Hogg, still best known as an anti-gun rights activist, currently faces efforts to oust him from the DNC for his commitment to replacing establishment Democrats with more progressive figures.

WATCH:

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REVEALED: ‘Politburo’ of Aides That Controlled Biden White House.

PULSE POINTS:

What Happened: A cabal of close and influential aides worked to hide Joe Biden’s cognitive and physical decline from the press and others in the Democratic government, including senior cabinet officials.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, longtime aides Mike Donilon, Steve Ricchetti, Bruce Reed, Ron Klain, Anthony Bernal, and Annie Tomasini.

📍 Where & When: The allegations that aides covered up Biden’s cognitive and physical decline surfaced in July 2024 but have drawn increasing media attention with the publication of Original Sin on May 20, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “When you’re voting for president, you’re voting for the aides around him,” a Biden staffer reportedly told Original Sin author Alex Thompson.

⚠️ Impact: Claims raise questions about transparency, Biden’s fitness for office, and the Biden government’s handling of national security and policy issues.

IN FULL:

Evidence continues to mount that a covert operation within the Biden government, comprised of a tight-knit group of aides, worked to obscure President Joe Biden’s mental decline while effectively running the White House. Author and journalist Alex Thompson describes the group as a “politburo” of longtime aides Mike Donilon, Steve Ricchetti, Bruce Reed, Ron Klain, Anthony Bernal, and Annie Tomasini. Last summer, The National Pulse reported that Bernal, Tomasini, and aide Ashley Williams served as intermediaries between Joe and Jill Biden and senior White House officials, effectively shielding the octogenarian Democrat from his own cabinet.

Thompson, the co-author of Original Sin, states concerns about Biden’s capacity to endure a reelection campaign or another term were raised by administration insiders as early as April 2023. Notably, even Biden’s doctor, Kevin O’Connor, who repeatedly told the American public that Biden’s health was fine, privately told White House aides that if the president suffered a fall in 2023 or 2024, he would likely need to be confined to a wheelchair and face an arduous recovery.

The protective environment around Biden became so fervent that at least one aide remarked that Biden “just had to win, and then he could disappear for four years,” with aides taking over day-to-day responsibilities. “When you’re voting for president, you’re voting for the aides around him,” the staffer allegedly stated. Even more concerning, at least two cabinet members are alleged to have expressed doubts regarding Biden’s cognitive state and ability to handle critical national security situations, such as a potential “2:00 AM crisis call.”

In January, The National Pulse reported that presidential historian Douglas Brinkley acknowledged that Biden was effectively unable to function as Commander-in-Chief during his final years in office. Like Thompson and reports last summer, Brinkley states that a cadre of key White House aides both hid Biden’s infirmities and effectively ran the country in his stead. Brinkley likened the situation to former President Woodrow Wilson, who suffered a stroke largely hidden from the American public. Following the stroke, his wife, Edith Wilson, essentially ran the country.

As allegations mounted in recent weeks regarding the cover-up of Biden’s mental and physical decline, the Biden family announced last week that Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Typically slow-developing, prostate cancer is often caught in its early stages through PSA tests and routine prostate exams, though Biden’s medical records are unclear if he received either while serving as president.

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Top Political Historian: ‘There Was No THERE, There’ With Biden After 2nd Year in Office.

Presidential historian Douglas Brinkley claims President Joe Biden has effectively been unable to serve as Commander-in-Chief in recent years, a fact that White House staffers have worked hard to cover up. Speaking with Puck’s Tara Palmeri on the Somebody’s Gotta Win podcast, Brinkley likened the situation to former President Woodrow Wilson, who suffered a stroke largely hidden from the American public. Following the stroke, his wife, Edith Wilson, essentially ran the country.

During her conversation with Brinkley, Palmeri alleges similarities between Biden’s final year in office and that of former President Ronald Reagan, who some believe was too incapacitated to serve, leaving decisions up to his wife, Nancy Reagan. In response, Brinkley notes the more severe case of Wilson’s presidency. “An even more exaggerated case of that syndrome was when Woodrow Wilson was incapacitated by strokes and his last years in the presidency, Edith Wilson—ostensibly—ran the government,” Brinkley says. “In Biden’s case, after about year two, there was no there, it seemed.”

“And I’m hoping journalists—the Wall Street Journal is doing a good job of tracing it—but we really need to know who were this inner circle in the White House,” she continued, adding: “Was it Ron Klain? I mean who do we, who knew that—because anybody meeting Joe Biden knew that this was an issue—who was trying to protect him like that?”

RUNNING COVER FOR BIDEN.

The National Pulse has previously reported that the 82-year-old Biden spent his final years in the White House largely insulated by his wife, Jill Biden, and a core group of aides considered loyal to the First Lady. The so-called “inner circle” includes White House Deputy Chief of Staff Annie Tomasini, Jill Biden’s top adviser Anthony Bernal, and long-time Biden staffer Ashley Williams.

Corporate media scrutiny regarding Joe Biden’s health intensified after he dropped out of the 2024 presidential race. At least one seasoned CBS News analyst acknowledged that major news networks largely ignored the Democrat president’s cognitive problems before his disastrous June presidential debate.

Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz.

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Presidential historian Douglas Brinkley claims President Joe Biden has effectively been unable to serve as Commander-in-Chief in recent years, a fact that White House staffers have worked hard to cover up. Speaking with Puck's Tara Palmeri on the Somebody's Gotta Win podcast, Brinkley likened the situation to former President Woodrow Wilson, who suffered a stroke largely hidden from the American public. Following the stroke, his wife, Edith Wilson, essentially ran the country. show more

House Oversight Subpoenas Three Top Biden Aides Over Plot to Hide His Cognitive Decline.

The House Oversight Committee, chaired by Representative James Comer (R-KY), have announced subpoenas for three top staffers in Joe Biden‘s White House. According to the announcement, the committee is seeking information regarding whether White House staff are “running interference for President Biden and doing the President’s job for him amid his declining cognitive state.”

Targeted by the House Oversight subpoenas are First Lady Jill Biden‘s top aide Anthony Bernal, deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini, and senior adviser Ashley Williams. The National Pulse reported on Sunday that these three aides, each with deep ties to Jill Biden, created a “protective bubble” around Joe Biden—even preventing other senior staff from accessing to the 81-year-old incumbent.

A senior official at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) painted a bleaker picture regarding the level of staff control of and intervention with Biden. “Everything else feels like ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ by his inner circle to prop him up,” they said.

In letters to each Biden White House staffer, Rep. Comer has given them until July 27 to respond to the subpoenas. “I am issuing subpoenas today for White House staff Annie Tomasini, Anthony Bernal, and Ashley Williams to appear for depositions,” the Kentucky Republican said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

He added: “The White House has shielded these three key aides from testifying about President Biden’s mishandling of classified documents and now we’ve learned through reporting these same aides are also seeking to cover up President Biden’s declining cognitive state inside the White House. ”

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The House Oversight Committee, chaired by Representative James Comer (R-KY), have announced subpoenas for three top staffers in Joe Biden's White House. According to the announcement, the committee is seeking information regarding whether White House staff are "running interference for President Biden and doing the President’s job for him amid his declining cognitive state." show more

Report: WH Aides Close to First Lady Formed ‘Protective Bubble’ Around Biden.

A group of White House aides who either worked for or are close with First Lady Jill Biden allegedly formed a “protective bubble” around the 81-year-old Joe Biden, tightly managing his schedule and the amount of access other staff had. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Annie Tomasini—who maintains a close relationship with Jill Biden—is one of the aides, along with Jill Biden’s top adviser, Anthony Bernal, and long-time Biden staffer Ashley Williams.

“Annie, Ashley, and Anthony create a protective bubble around POTUS. He’s staffed so closely that he’s lost all independence,” a former White House staffer said in a recent interview. They continued: “POTUS relies on staff to nudge him with reminders of who he’s meeting, including former staffers and advisers who Biden should easily remember without a reminder from Annie.”

These three aides are almost constantly at Joe Biden‘s side. Concerns by other White House staff who observed these memory lapses were often dismissed, but last month’s presidential debate—where Biden appeared cognitively impaired to the point of being unfit for office— has left some believing the First Lady and her aides were involved in a cover-up.

A senior official at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) painted a bleaker picture regarding the level of staff control of and intervention with Biden. “Everything else feels like ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’ by his inner circle to prop him up,” they said.

Biden spokesman Andrew Bates dismissed the allegations, telling Axios: “These are standard processes for any White House, regardless of president or party. The claims about these individuals—whose professionalism and character are respected across the administration—are inaccurate.”

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A group of White House aides who either worked for or are close with First Lady Jill Biden allegedly formed a "protective bubble" around the 81-year-old Joe Biden, tightly managing his schedule and the amount of access other staff had. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Annie Tomasini—who maintains a close relationship with Jill Biden—is one of the aides, along with Jill Biden's top adviser, Anthony Bernal, and long-time Biden staffer Ashley Williams. show more