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
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