Dr. Kevin O’Connor, former President Joe Biden’s White Home doctor, did not reply questions when he briefly appeared earlier than the Home Oversight Committee on Wednesday for a closed-door, transcribed interview.
O’Connor was subpoenaed by Committee Chairman James Comer as a part of a Republican-led investigation into Biden’s psychological health and use of a presidential autopen whereas in workplace.
O’Connor’s lawyer, David Schertler, mentioned in a press release that the physician “asserted the physician-patient privilege, in addition to his proper underneath the Fifth Modification to the U.S. Structure, in declining to reply questions from the workers of the Home Committee on Oversight and Authorities Reform relating to his service as Doctor to the President throughout the Biden Administration.”
Comer additionally mentioned the physician constantly pleaded the Fifth Modification — a proper to refuse to reply questions the place somebody may incriminate themself.
“That is unprecedented. And I feel this provides extra gas to the fireplace that there was a canopy up,” the congressman mentioned.
Former White Home doctor Kevin O’Connor departs following testimony earlier than the Home Oversight and Authorities Reform Committee investigating former President Biden’s psychological health in Washington, July 9, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
O’Connor did not take any questions from reporters when he arrived and left the Rayburn Home Workplace Constructing on Wednesday morning.
Docs have a authorized obligation to not discuss issues like affected person interactions, prognosis, and coverings. Sharing this data can result in civil and legal penalties, in accordance with the Division of Well being & Human Companies.
The Home Oversight Committee has requested interviews with a number of of Biden’s former White Home aides in gentle of a stories questioning his psychological health in his remaining 12 months in workplace and alleged efforts by these round him to hide it — allegations Biden has vehemently denied.
Neera Tanden, who served because the director of the White Home Home Coverage Council underneath Biden, sat for testimony in late June. When requested after by reporters if there was an effort to disguise Biden’s situation, Tanden replied: “Completely not.”
Comer mentioned on Wednesday the GOP probe will proceed.
“We’ve a number of different witnesses which can be going to come back in for transcribed interviews,” he mentioned.
Rep. Jamie Comer, chairman of the Home Oversight and Accountability Committee, talks to reporters briefly earlier than listening to testimony from former President Joe Biden’s doctor, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, July 9, 2025.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
The Trump White Home waived government privilege for O’Connor forward of his look. The Home Oversight Committee beforehand requested O’Connor and aides sit for interviews whereas Biden was president, however Biden blocked the request.
Months after leaving the White Home, Biden was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.
Biden rejected stories of cognitive decline throughout an appearance on ABC’s “The View” in early Might, earlier than his workplace introduced his most cancers prognosis.
“They’re unsuitable. There’s nothing to maintain that,” Biden mentioned on the time.
President Joe Biden speaks with White Home Doctor Kevin O’Connor as he arrives again on the White Home in Washington, DC, on August 28, 2023, following a go to to Eliot-Hine Center Faculty.
Saul Loeb/AFP through Getty Pictures
Former first woman Jill Biden, in the identical interview, pushed again forcefully to accusations she shielded Biden from allies and the general public.
“I didn’t create a cocoon round him. I imply, you noticed him within the Oval Workplace. You noticed him making speeches. He wasn’t hiding someplace,” she mentioned.
Since then, former president Biden has spoken at some occasions, together with on the Society for Human Useful resource Administration’s annual convention in San Diego final week, the place he mirrored on his management and profession.
ABC Information’ Eric Strauss contributed to this report.
