The ongoing investigation into President Joe Biden's health and cognitive state took a significant turn when his former White House physician, Kevin O'Connor, declined to testify before a congressional interview. On Wednesday, O'Connor faced lawmakers after being issued a subpoena but chose to invoke his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination, as well as citing doctor-patient privilege. The closed-door session ended without any testimony from O'Connor, leaving the probing House Republicans with more questions than answers.
The refusal by O'Connor came as part of a larger effort by House Republicans to uncover the extent of knowledge regarding Biden's mental faculties and the alleged concealment of his cognitive decline. The investigation seeks to identify individuals within Biden's inner circle who might have contributed to withholding this information from Congress and the public. Rep. James Comer (R-KY), the driving force behind this investigation, expressed that O'Connor's invocation of the Fifth Amendment "adds more fuel to the fire that there was a cover-up."
Despite the White House's attempt to facilitate cooperation by waiving executive privilege for O'Connor, the physician's legal team released a statement defending his decision not to answer questions. They highlighted that the assertion of his rights was based on legal advice and was necessary due to the unique circumstances of the deposition.
The statement from O'Connor's attorneys aimed to clarify that the use of constitutional protections to avoid testimony should not be misinterpreted as an admission of criminal wrongdoing. They emphasized that the invocation of the Fifth Amendment was a legal strategy, not an indication of guilt.
This incident has intensified the scrutiny from congressional Republicans, who have been vocal about their frustration with what they describe as obstructionist behavior from former officials of the Biden administration. The refusal to testify is part of broader efforts to investigate the decision-making within the Biden White House, particularly during the president's final months in office.
House investigators are determined to establish a timeline detailing when Biden's cognitive decline was recognized by his close aides and whether constitutional protocols regarding presidential incapacity and the transfer of executive powers were properly followed.
As this political drama unfolds, it is yet another chapter in the comprehensive examination by House Republicans of the circumstances surrounding Biden's presidency and the transparency of his fitness for office.
