Anne Marie Thomasini repeatedly declined to answer questions from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform during a deposition on July 16, 2025, invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self‑incrimination when asked about classified documents, instructions to conceal material and alleged business dealings involving the Biden family.

The deposition followed a subpoena issued July 15, 2025, and was convened under the committee's asserted investigative authority. Jake Greenberg, chief counsel for investigations for Chairman James Comer, opened the proceeding and reviewed deposition ground rules before beginning questioning.

Tomansini (sic) repeatedly answered, "On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer the question pursuant to my Fifth Amendment rights under the constitution," each time the committee asked about (1) advising President Biden about classified documents found in his garage, (2) whether she had been instructed to conceal or destroy classified materials, (3) conspiring to hide information about the Biden family's business dealings, and (4) whether she had been instructed to lie about President Biden's health. The committee's questioners confirmed on the record that her invocation applied specifically to the risk of self‑incrimination.

Jonathan Hsu, counsel for Thomasini, made a statement for the record defending the invocation and offering background on his client. Hsu said that Thomasini "has fulfilled her obligations to the committee by appearing before you today" and that "there is no actual evidence of wrongdoing by Miss Tommasini," adding that former President Biden, according to Hsu's reading, made the clemency decisions in question. Hsu also asked the reporter to mark several news items and documents as exhibits, including a June 24, 2025, letter from Gary Lukowski, deputy counsel to the president, advising that President Trump would not assert executive privilege or immunity to prevent Thomasini's testimony.

Committee counsel also placed on the record that Chairman Comer initially requested a voluntary interview on May 22, 2025, that counsel for Thomasini confirmed a transcribed interview for July 18, and that on July 14 counsel requested the proceeding be changed to a deposition; Chairman Comer then issued the July 15 subpoena. The majority counsel noted the committee is "considering legislative solutions" in connection with the inquiry and that the deposition had been noticed July 15, 2025.

The court reporter was asked to mark multiple exhibits read into the record by counsel, which Hsu identified as: a New York Times article dated April 1, 2025; an ABC News article dated May 13, 2025; a Truth Social post by President Trump dated May 20, 2025 (quoted during Hsu's statement); the committee's May 22, 2025, letter to Thomasini; a presidential memorandum dated June 4, 2025; an NBC News item dated June 5, 2025; a New York Times piece dated July 13, 2025; an NBC News item dated July 15, 2025 (redacted in part); and a Politico story dated July 16, 2025. Hsu characterized some of those items as documenting a Justice Department investigation and public commentary about the matters under review.

The committee's counsel also placed on the record the committee's instruction that testimony remains confidential under House deposition rules until released by the chairman and ranking member. After the witness repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment, the committee excused her from the deposition.

Discussion versus decision: the transcript records questioning, the witness's repeated invocation of the Fifth Amendment (a testimonial decision by the witness), and the administrative actions of issuing a subpoena and marking exhibits. There were no committee votes or formal legislative actions recorded during the deposition.

The transcript shows the committee probed several topics — classified materials, the use of an "auto pen" in clemency decisions, alleged efforts to conceal information, and whether witnesses were instructed to lie — but the witness declined to answer on Fifth Amendment grounds. Counsel for Thomasini emphasized the legal propriety of invoking the Fifth Amendment and entered several documents and news reports into the deposition record. The witness was excused after counsel confirmed she intended to invoke the privilege for the session.

The committee indicated earlier that it had sought a voluntary interview and later issued a subpoena after the format change; the transcript also records a June 24, 2025, letter from the deputy counsel to the president stating the White House would not assert executive privilege over Thomasini's assessment of former President Biden's fitness for office. The counsel reading exhibits referenced public reporting and official memoranda that the parties say relate to a separate Justice Department inquiry; those reports were entered as exhibits but the transcript does not record new testimonial factual admissions by Thomasini.

No further committee action — such as referral, vote or direction to staff to prepare legislation — is recorded in the transcript provided.