House Oversight Committee Questions Biden’s Health
James Comer, the Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee, has intensified scrutiny of Kevin O’Connor, President Biden’s former White House doctor, after O’Connor’s reluctance to discuss Biden’s health at a recent deposition.
“When Joe Biden’s doctor was asked if he had ever been told to misrepresent Biden’s health, he pleaded the Fifth,” Comer shared on social media. He further stated, “Under oath, when asked if he believed Biden was fit to serve, he once again used the Fifth Amendment.”
Comer remarked, “President Trump is correct; this could be the most significant scandal in the history of the Oval Office.”
The investigation led by Comer focuses on whether aides from the Biden administration attempted to obscure the president’s health issues. Biden, who disclosed a prostate cancer diagnosis in May, has dismissed any claims implying he is unfit for the office.
In a statement, O’Connor’s legal team explained that the physician’s decision to skip certain questions was to maintain the confidentiality typically afforded to doctor-patient relationships.
“This committee has shown that it does not respect the confidentiality inherent in physician-patient engagements,” the statement indicated. “Instead, they seem to demand unrestricted access to President Biden’s medical assessments and treatments.”
Following the meeting, Comer faced criticism for his approach. He commented, “It’s unprecedented for President Biden’s doctor to have taken the Fifth multiple times. I think this adds to the narrative of cover-ups.”
House Republicans are pursuing additional interviews with Biden administration officials, reigniting discussions about Biden’s previous health disclosures and any potential cognitive decline, especially after recent media reports raised these issues.
Comer had previously attempted to interview O’Connor and other senior Biden aides regarding these health matters, but those efforts were thwarted while Biden was in office, due to executive privilege protections. This situation changed earlier this year when Trump dismantled those restrictions.
