Biden's White House doctor declines to answer questions in House deposition
'Earlier today, Dr. Kevin O'Connor asserted the physician-patient privilege, as well as his right under the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, in declining to answer questions from the staff of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform regarding his service as Physician to the President during the Biden Administration,' the statement from O'Connor's legal counsel said.
'On the advice of his legal counsel, Dr. O'Connor refused to answer questions that invaded the well-established legal privilege that protects confidential matters between physicians and their patients. His assertion of his right under the Fifth Amendment to decline to answer questions, also on the advice of his lawyers, was made necessary by the unique circumstances of this deposition,' the statement said.
Later in the day, the Oversight Committee released a video of the deposition, showing O'Conner identifying himself for the record, then going on to answer every question by invoking the Fifth Amendment or physician-patient privilege. He provided the same answer to both substantive questions and questions about whether he understood the proceedings.
Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) subpoenaed the doctor last month to compel his interview as part of the panel's investigation into Biden's mental acuity while in office and whether the 46th president was aware of documents signed with his 'autopen' signature.
Comer tore into O'Conner over his refusal to answer questions.
'It's clear there was a conspiracy to cover up President Biden's cognitive decline after Dr. Kevin O'Connor, Biden's physician and family business associate, refused to answer any questions and chose to hide behind the Fifth Amendment. The American people demand transparency, but Dr. O'Connor would rather conceal the truth,' Comer said in a statement. 'Dr. O'Connor took the Fifth when asked if he was told to lie about President Biden's health and whether he was fit to be President of the United States. Congress must assess legislative solutions to prevent such a coverup from happening again. We will continue to interview more Biden White House aides to get the answers Americans deserve.'
According to a written draft of a statement delivered inside the deposition room, O'Connor's lawyer, David Schertler, said the committee indicated that 'it does not intend to honor one of the most well-known privileges in our law — the physician patient privilege …. Revealing confidential patient information would violate the most fundamental ethical duty of a physician, could result in revocation of Dr. O'Connor's medical license, and would subject Dr. O'Connor to potential civil liability.'
Schertler also noted President Trump has directed the Department of Justice to conduct an investigation into Biden's mental acuity while in office, arguing the Oversight panel should pause its investigation until any criminal investigation concluded.
And Schertler said O'Connor's decision to assert his Fifth Amendment privilege 'does not imply that Dr. O'Connor has committed any crime.'
Asked about doctor-patient confidentiality before heading into the interview, Comer told reporters: 'I don't believe that he can hide behind doctor-patient confidentiality, because this is the president of the United States, and people expect the White House physician to be truthful and transparent about the president of the United States' health.'
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the ranking member of the committee, slammed the GOP investigation in a statement.
'The only person's health that Republicans care about is Joe Biden's – even as 17 million Americans lose access to affordable health care thanks to their big budget betrayal,' Garcia said. 'Oversight Republicans could be working to lower costs for American families and conducting oversight of President Trump's corruption, but instead are obsessed with the past. Democrats will continue to look forward and build a more effective and efficient government for the American people.'
The doctor's lawyers over the weekend had requested postponement of the interview, citing concern O'Connor would not be able to protect doctor-patient privilege during the testimony, and asserting the committee had declined to rule out any limitations to the scope of the deposition.
The statement from O'Connor's legal counsel referenced President Trump relying on his Fifth Amendment rights when refusing to testify in a deposition before the New York state attorney general in 2022, saying: 'Anyone in my position not taking the Fifth Amendment would be a fool — an absolute fool.'
NewsNation contributed.
Updated at 6:36 p.m. EDT
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
an hour ago
- Business Insider
U.S. snubs South Africa's G20 talks again as tariff tensions strain Africa's trade prospects
For the second time this year, the United States has skipped a key G20 finance meeting hosted by South Africa, raising diplomatic eyebrows and casting a shadow over Africa's efforts to assert its voice in global economic governance. The United States skipped a pivotal G20 finance meeting in South Africa for the second time this year. The United States' actions coincide with trade tensions and tariff measures targeting several African nations. Washington's retreat from such dialogues could hinder Africa's access to global markets and development initiatives. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's absence from the summit in Durban follows a similar no-show at the February gathering in Cape Town, both critical forums for discussing global financial stability, debt restructuring, and inclusive growth. Josh Lipsky, chair of international economics at the Atlantic Council, told Reuters that the absence of the United States at the G20 finance talks ' raises a deep question ' about the group's credibility, especially without senior political representation from the world's largest economy. ' It raises questions about the G20's long-term viability, ' Lipsky said, adding that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's repeated absence may signal Washington's intention to push for a slimmed-down, 'back to basics' version of the G20 when it assumes the rotating presidency next year. Trump's showdown with BRICS nations The snub comes amid rising trade tensions between Washington and several African nations, triggered by President Donald Trump's new tariff measures and warnings to countries seen as aligning with BRICS economic policies. Recall that President Trump recently threatened to impose a 10% tariff increase on BRICS-affiliated nations that he accused of " aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies." This warning came on the heels of a 30% tariff already levied on South Africa and other countries the U.S. administration has deemed as opposing its global trade agenda. With South Africa serving as a key voice for the continent in global economic platforms, the repeated absence of U.S. representation has sparked concerns that Africa's economic priorities may be sidelined in an increasingly polarized global trade environment.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
I don't want to talk to MAGA voters, but Epstein gives Democrats an in on Trump
Don't want to talk to MAGA folks or conspiracy theorists? Me, neither. Here's the thing though: the guardrails are already off. The most devoted supporters of President Donald Trump's administration have been outraged since the Department of Justice and FBI announced there was apparently no Jeffrey Epstein client list after all. Within the Trump-friendly bubble of comedians and podcasters, the list had been a holy grail, the piece of irrefutable evidence their leader would need to abolish the 'deep state.' Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel have all publicly supported the DOJ's assertion that a list does not exist. Trump has even scolded the press for inquiring about Epstein and ranted about the case on social media. In response, conservative influencers who had, until now, supported the administration have been apoplectic. Alex Jones, who famously spread conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook massacre, posted a video bemoaning Trump's willingness to hide the truth. Megyn Kelly, formerly of Fox News, has called on Bondi to resign. Opnion: Please stop talking about Jeffrey Epstein. You're making Donald Trump mad. Now, memes are circulating online, taking aim at members of the administration with a sort of bile previously reserved for Democrats. To the podcasters, influencers and devotees of Trump, this is a betrayal. Unlike tariffs − the effects of which haven't yet been fully felt − or a ransacking of the federal government, this one hits home. It is visceral and emotional, cause and effect. Uproar over Epstein files is a political opportunity The rift that it is causing now is something that Democrats could have only dreamed of before the 2024 election. Do not dismiss this as a distraction. Clawing away health care, militarizing Los Angeles, playing chicken with the economy and undermining the rule of law are undoubtedly more important. Yet, none of them can do what this single story can, which is to put daylight between the man and his following. This creates an opportunity to reach our fellow citizens who have been entirely unreachable until now. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Don't want to talk to MAGA folks or conspiracy theorists? Me, neither. For that matter, I don't get excited about speaking with disengaged citizens or people who still say they're "apolitical.' Here's the thing though: the guardrails are already off. Congress has sold out the American people to give a tax cut to a handful of men who make Rockefeller look broke. They will not assert themselves as the first branch of government. The Supreme Court, meanwhile, has granted the president monarchic powers, insulating him from accountability for criminal conduct and allowing him to disembowel the federal government. Progressives should extend olive branch to disillusioned voters We the people are the only remaining check on unrestrained executive power, and we are not a formal institution. To be effective, we need to be as great in number as possible. That is going to require us talking to people with whom we disagree. That doesn't mean giving safe harbor to bigots, nor does it mean trying to persuade diehard MAGAs. What it does mean is talking to some of the roughly two-thirds of Americans who either voted against our county's best interests or did not vote at all. It's an unsavory task, but one we all must undertake if we ever want this fever to break. Share your thoughts: Trump, MAGA and the media can't stop talking about Epstein. Do you care? Tell us. | Opinion Forum Fortunately, there are things we can do to make the experience more palatable. The first is to remember that most people do not follow current affairs. America is not actually split in two. Most people are concerned with their own lives and their positions are rooted more in emotions than information. Speak to their concerns, not their politics. Next, consider that someone may be disengaged because they are disillusioned or radicalized because they are lonely. Loneliness is a gateway drug to disinformation and conspiracy theories. Though it is exasperating, practice active listening. No one wants to hear from the other side, but practicing patience and allowing someone else to feel heard is a prerequisite to building trust. Lastly and most importantly, do not gloat. There is so much reason to, but keeping our society from collapsing as its members descend into disinformation rabbit holes is a more compelling reason not to. No one person can singlehandedly repair our country, and none of us can help people who are unwilling to help themselves. But by trying to engage others in productive dialogue, we can leave the door open and provide them a foothold in reality. Christian Hanley is a Washington, D.C.-based strategist. He is the author of a forthcoming book, "Be the Anchor: How to keep the people in your life tethered to reality in a sea of disinformation." You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter.
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
U.S.-China Trade Plummets From 18% To 6%: Trump Tariffs Or Trickery?
And then there were two. Once China sat atop the rankings of U.S. trade partners. Today, it ranks a ... More distance third, closer in percentage to the rest of the world's nations than Mexico or Canada. China accounted for 5.89% of all U.S. trade in May, its lowest monthly percentage in more than 23 years, according to my analysis of the latest U.S. Census Bureau data. Is it the impact of President Trump's tariffs or some sort of 'rules of origin' trickery? One thing that's hard to dispute: It's a remarkable shift. Former President Joe Biden continued the tariffs on China that President Trump initiated during his ... More first term — and is now intensifying in in his second. Not long after President Trump entered the White House for his first term, China accounted for 17.77% of all U.S. trade, three times more. Months later, Trump would begin the trade war that continued through the presidency of Joe Biden, and which he has now intensified. It has altered the U.S. export-import landscape in many ways. But not all ways. Since one of Trump's key goals has been to reduce the U.S. merchandise trade deficit with the world, it's fair to say that not only has not worked, it has failed. The U.S. deficit has risen six of the last eight years, topping $1 trillion the last four. It has only shifted. At the end of 2018, the U.S. deficit with China was five times that of any other nation's. Today, it is now only slightly larger than Mexico's – and less than Mexico's and Canada's combined for the first time in decades. While the U.S. deficit with China has fallen 29.37%, the deficit with Mexico, Canada and other leading trade partners have registered sometimes staggering increases: Perhaps, you might be thinking, it's better to have deficits with your allies than China. Well, Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs announced April 2, paused until July 9 and now largely extended to Aug. 1, threatened these countries and the rest of the world with tariffs of varying amounts. Why? The countries listed above, with the exception of Canada, were largely targeted because of the presumption that China had been gaming the system to alter the 'country of origin' labeling and save on steep U.S. tariffs, with a particular emphasis on Vietnam. With more than 100 countries with which the United States has a trade suplus, the reasoning is less clear. One byproduct of Trumps' trade war with the world? Relations with U.S. allies are frayed, strained at best. Another byproduct of this global trade war, is that while the U.S. deficit has increased, another key metric has fallen – the percentage of U.S. trade vs. an import. While most years for the last several decades the ratio between exports and imports have been relatively steady at about 40% exports, even as the deficit increased, something different is happening this year. That balance has fallen steeply by historical norms, even as the deficit has continued to rise. Against this backdrop, what follows is a closer look at the remarkable shift away from products with 'Made in China' labels entering the United States. Exports are also at play. Again, just looking at the first five months of the 2018 and 2025, U.S. exports to China are down 12.49% while U.S. exports to the world are up 30.24%. While that's a less-staggering difference, it is certainly staggering to U.S. exporters. For exports, that means a $3.03 billion decrease in the value of oil shipped to China, once the leading market for U.S. exports and a country now relying on oil from Russia and Iran. It means a $2.54 billion decline in passenger vehicles and a $688.03 million decline in the primary motor vehicle parts category. On the import side, it means a decline of $12.86 billion in the cell phone and parts category, a $10.57 billion decline in computers. It means a decline of more than $2 billion in seats, TVs and computer monitors, and furniture and parts. In summary, then, the change in the percentage of China's U.S. trade between Trump's first term and the first months of his second, is dramatic. In simple terms, six of the 10 months when China's trade with the United States was the highest over the last two decades occurred in Trump's first term, with all but two before he announced the trade war in March of 2018. And, now, in his first five months in office for which trade data is available, Trump has been president for three of the four lowest, the others being March and April. At least according to the official U.S. government data, it's hard to make the case that U.S. trade with China has not been decoupled. A percentage drop from above 17.77% to 5.89% would support that. The impact? The U.S. deficit has continued to rise. Through Trump's first term. Through Biden's. And, so far, through the first months of Trump's second term. In addition, relations with allies are frayed at worst, strained at least.
