An extensive list of Biden family allies defended a top White House staffer accused of sexual harassment.
Anthony Bernal, the top aide to First Lady Jill Biden, was accused by almost a dozen current and former staffers of aggressive workplace behavior, with some allegations including sexual harassment, as reported by The New York Post this month. Specific accusations against Bernal include a pattern of comments on the penis size and sexuality of coworkers. The White House provided a statement in defense of Bernal, who denied the claims.
“The president and first lady have full confidence in Anthony’s character, as do I,” White House chief of staff Jeff Zients told the Post. “His many fans at the White House know him to be both gracious and tough, holding himself up to the highest standards, with a heart dedicated to public service. It is disappointing that he is the target of unfounded attacks from unnamed sources.”
Current and past members of President Joe Biden’s team provided statements to Fox News on Monday in defense of Bernal, who is reportedly known as the “work husband” of the First Lady.Â
“Anthony is one of the most generous, conscientious, brilliant people working at the White House,” an unnamed White House official reportedly told the outlet. “In the 20 years I’ve known him, I’ve never heard him …Â make comments like the ones alleged — in fact, he’s always been quite intentional and purposeful in making sure colleagues at every level feel valued and appreciated.”
“I’ve worked with Anthony for almost 30 years — and I’ve always seen him act with the utmost professionalism and compassion toward his team,” Ron Klain, Biden’s former chief of staff, told Fox News Digital.
The New York Post reported allegations that Bernal often shares a theory that a man’s thumb size corresponds to the size of his genitalia.
“It is to make people uncomfortable and to have power over them,” one source reportedly told the outlet. “It is Me Too — classic Me Too.”
Bernal, who is openly gay, would allegedly claim fellow staffers were gay.Â
“It was a lot of inappropriate remarks — talking about other people’s attractiveness and speculating about their sex lives at very weird moments,” another source told The New York Post. “That’s actually sexual harassment.”
Some of Bernal’s former and current staffers have come to his defense, lauding his character, following the report by the Post.
“He has a good heart and always keeps the people we serve at the forefront of his decisions,” one former staffer told Fox News. “As one of the youngest staff in the office, he consistently asked for and valued my perspective and contributions.”
“The White House is a demanding workplace requiring the best efforts of all its employees, and Anthony’s leadership has helped me and many others maximize our abilities,” another source reportedly told the outlet. “He challenged me to be better than I ever thought I could be, and as a result I’m a far better person and co-worker because of that interaction.”
Meanwhile, on his first day in office, President Biden said, “I am not joking when I say this: if you are ever working with me and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect or talk down to someone, I promise you I will fire you on the spot. … No ifs, and or buts.”
