The former White House physician has expressed criticism towards Kevin O’Connor after he declined to answer questions from the House Oversight Committee investigators earlier this week.
Dr. O’Connor, who had served under former President Joe Biden, participated in a transcribed interview on Wednesday with committee staff and its chair, James Kommer (R-Ky.). In that session, which lasted about 30 minutes, O’Connor invoked the Fifth Amendment for all inquiries, aside from confirming his name.
O’Connor’s legal team raised concerns that extensive inquiries from the committee could jeopardize the confidentiality between doctors and their patients. “You can’t have it both ways,” said Ronny Jackson, a former White House doctor from Texas, in a follow-up interview.
Kommer has dismissed O’Connor’s attempts to pause the investigation, stating, “Dropping all excuses.” Jackson mentioned that the Fifth Amendment serves to protect individuals from implicating themselves in any unlawful actions, emphasizing that O’Connor was already addressing the issue of privacy concerning his patients.
Despite attempts to delay the interview, Kommer proceeded, asserting that O’Connor had been legally summoned to testify. He noted that Trump had waived his privileges in similar contexts, leaving O’Connor with nothing but the option to plead the Fifth.
Jackson has previously worked as a White House doctor for both Barack Obama and Trump. He indicated that Kommer relied heavily on his expertise in framing questions for O’Connor.
As the investigation intensifies, Jackson stated he had never previously expressed concern over Biden’s mental state. He detailed that he consulted widely with medical professionals while preparing his questions.
The investigation aims to uncover whether Biden’s former aide concealed signs of his mental and physical decline during his inauguration and if executive actions were taken without Biden’s full awareness. These claims have been pushed back by Biden’s allies.
“A cover-up would require the involvement of O’Connor,” Jackson stated, suggesting that was why O’Connor felt compelled to invoke the Fifth—acknowledging his crucial role in the cover-up.
O’Connor’s legal team has rejected any implication of guilt. They argue that the refusal to respond to Fifth Amendment questions does not indicate wrongdoing but is a necessary measure against what they consider unprecedented overreach that could violate physician-patient privileges.
According to O’Connor’s lawyers, the committee has not respected these privileges and is demanding that confidential patient details be disclosed without restrictions, a move they claim could breach fundamental ethical obligations and potentially risk O’Connor’s medical license.
Fox News Digital has reached out to O’Connor’s attorney for further clarification.
