House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) decided it would be a great idea to summon White House physician Kevin O’Connor for a little chat about President Joe Biden’s health. Apparently, Biden’s recent debate flop has sent shockwaves through the political arena and cast doubts on his re-election campaign.
Biden, 81, is facing a crisis of confidence among fellow Democrats after his recent debate against former President Donald Trump. Some party members are calling for Biden to withdraw from the 2024 race, but the president and his team are trying to reassure supporters of his capability to serve and run for a second term.
Of course, it’s not just Democrats who are fuming. Reporters, too, are apparently seething. They’ve locked horns with the White House over whether the administration has been transparent regarding President Biden’s health.
During a tense press briefing, reporters questioned press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre about reports that visitor logs showed a neurologist specializing in Parkinson’s disease visited the White House eight times in eight months, including for a meeting with presidential physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor.
In a letter to O’Connor, Comer noted that calls from medical professionals for Biden to undergo a cognitive test “grew stronger” after his debate with Trump. However, The Washington Post reported over the weekend that O’Connor insisted the president does not need testing.
Comer also highlighted inconsistencies in statements from Biden and his press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, regarding whether the president has been medically evaluated since the debate. Biden reportedly said a doctor examined him, while Jean-Pierre told reporters that Biden had not been evaluated since his annual exam in February.
Jean-Pierre has faced criticism from multiple people, including reporters, for her inconsistent statements about whether Biden consulted a doctor before and after his June 27 debate. During the debate, the president often struggled to articulate his thoughts, frequently leaving his mouth open while former President Trump spoke. Aides initially attributed Biden’s hoarse voice to a cold.
Moreover, despite the repeated visits from Dr. Kevin Cannard, an expert in Parkinson’s disease, Jean-Pierre maintains that Biden is not undergoing treatment for Parkinson’s. Her statements regarding Biden’s health raise significant doubts. This further underscores the urgency of obtaining clear and direct answers from O’Connor.
Comer underscored that O’Connor has consistently turned down the majority of interview requests from the media. The committee is now pressing for clarity on his impartiality, especially in light of conflicting messages from the White House regarding the president’s capacity to fulfill his responsibilities.
The letter also raised concerns about O’Connor’s “connections with the Biden family,” citing evidence that the doctor counseled the president’s brother, James Biden, in connection with work for the hospital firm Americore. James Biden testified that the help came when O’Connor served as Joe Biden’s personal doctor when he was out of office.
Comer, who is already leading an impeachment investigation into President Biden and his family over potential influence-peddling schemes, noted that James Biden received hundreds of thousands of dollars in what has been characterized as “loans” from Americore and wrote a $200,000 check to his brother as a “loan repayment.”
“Given your connections with the Biden family,” Comer wrote, “the Committee also seeks to understand if you are in a position to provide accurate and independent reviews of the President’s fitness to serve.” The GOP-led panel wants to “understand the extent of your involvement in the Biden family’s financial activity,” Comer added in his letter.
Comer requested O’Connor “produce all documents and communications in your possession regarding Americore and James Biden.” He further asked that O’Connor make himself available for an interview with Committee counsel, requesting that O’Connor contact staff by July 14 to schedule the interview.
