Former White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor refused to answer questions from House lawmakers investigating the alleged cover-up of former President Biden’s cognitive decline, asserting his right under the Fifth Amendment to avoid self-incrimination. Here’s what you need to know about the Biden cognitive decline investigation:
The Fifth Amendment invocation
White House physician refuses to testify:
- Dr. O’Connor made quick exit from House office building after brief appearance
- Appeared behind closed doors for transcribed interview with House Oversight Committee
- Asserted Fifth Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination
- His lawyers declined to comment on proceedings
The two key questions
Lawmakers asked specific questions about Biden cover-up:
- Was he ever told to lie about the president?
- Did he believe Biden was unfit to execute his duties as president?
- Dr. O’Connor pleaded the Fifth to both questions
- Lawmakers subpoenaed O’Connor after he initially refused to appear
Comer’s reaction
Oversight Committee chairman sees unprecedented development:
- “This is unprecedented, and I think that this adds more fuel to the fire that there was a cover-up”
- James Comer, Kentucky Republican, made statement after brief interview
- Trump administration waived executive privilege for O’Connor
- Executive privilege would have shielded doctor from discussing Biden treatment
The Democratic defense
Texas congresswoman says doctor protecting patient confidentiality:
- Rep. Jasmine Crockett said O’Connor was protecting patient confidentiality
- “I think that he did what any good lawyer would advise him to do”
- Said doctor had “two good lawyers in the room today”
- Emphasized doctor’s duty to protect medical confidentiality
The medical license concern
Crockett explains physician’s legal obligations:
- “Make sure that he doesn’t lose his medical license”
- “Whether you’re the president or otherwise, you have the right to confidentiality when it comes to your health care”
- Crockett, who is a lawyer, explained legal protections
- Said doctor understanding “what an oath is”
The Justice Department probe
O’Connor also facing Trump DOJ investigation:
- Crockett said doctor protecting himself from Trump’s “rogue” Justice Department
- DOJ also probing Biden administration’s use of autopen
- Justice Department investigating potential cover-up of Biden’s cognitive decline
- O’Connor seeks protection from both congressional and DOJ probes
The Biden family connections
Doctor had close personal and business ties:
- O’Connor was Biden’s longtime doctor and served as White House physician
- Physician was close family friend to Biden family
- Also business associate to Biden’s younger brother, James Biden
- Helped James Biden in bid to win Department of Veterans Affairs contracts in 2017
The glowing health reports
O’Connor wrote positive assessments despite public concerns:
- Wrote glowing health reports during Biden’s presidency
- Reports came despite obvious signs of diminishing mental acuity
- Continued positive assessments despite numerous public stumbles
- Committee questions whether reports reflected reality
Comer’s investigation rationale
Chairman seeks to understand doctor’s role:
- “Given your connections with the Biden family, the Committee seeks to understand if you contributed to an effort to hide former President Biden’s fitness to serve from the American people”
- Comer wrote about doctor’s family connections
- This is Comer’s second attempt to grill Biden staffers and doctor
- Committee investigating presidency and cognitive difficulties impact
The broader probe
House panel investigating Biden administration functioning:
- Committee begun interviewing former Biden aides
- Probe examines whether aides were administering presidency instead of Biden
- Investigation focuses on Biden’s cognitive decline impact
- Panel seeks to understand who was actually running the presidency
Read more:
• Kevin O’Connor, ex-White House doctor, pleads Fifth in House probe of Biden’s cognitive decline
This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Ann Wog, Managing Editor for Digital, at awog@washingtontimes.com
The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.
