House Republicans are initiating a probe into Biden's physician following concerns about his debate performance.
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) has formally requested White House physician Kevin O’Connor to attend a private, transcribed interview with committee counsel. Comer has given O’Connor a deadline of July 14 to arrange the interview.
“Americans are questioning Biden’s capability to lead the nation,” Comer wrote, referring to the committee’s investigation into O’Connor’s February assessment that described Biden as “a healthy, active, robust 81-year-old male, fit to execute the duties of the Presidency.”
In his February report, O’Connor noted that Biden underwent a thorough neurological examination with no findings indicative of any central neurological disorder. He mentioned Biden’s stiffer gait but affirmed that he remains a “healthy, vigorous, 80-year-old male, capable of fulfilling presidential duties.”
The request for an interview follows revelations on Saturday that Biden's doctor met with a leading neurologist specializing in Parkinson’s disease earlier this year, according to White House visitor logs.
The records indicate that Dr. Kevin Cannard, a Parkinson's disease specialist from Walter Reed Medical Center, met with O’Connor, and two others at the White House residence clinic on January 17. Cannard's name appears in the logs ten times since November 15, 2022.
Comer is the first House Republican to initiate an investigation in response to Biden’s debate performance, which has sparked increasing concern among Democrats and led some House lawmakers to call for Biden to withdraw from the presidential race. Despite this, Biden insists he will continue his campaign, although a recent ABC News interview did not alleviate the party's doubts.
Democrats are worried that the fallout from Biden’s debate performance could affect congressional races, as the GOP has been quick to challenge House and Senate Democrats on Biden’s fitness for office.
Comer’s letter indicates that House Republicans are prepared to leverage their slim majority to investigate. There has been pressure from the party’s right wing, including members of Comer’s committee, to take action, with some suggesting hearings or subpoenas for White House officials, particularly O’Connor.
In his letter, Comer connected the investigation to an ongoing impeachment inquiry primarily focused on Biden’s family’s business dealings. Although some Democrats have voiced concerns about Biden’s mental sharpness recently, Comer’s reference to the impeachment inquiry, along with checks from Jim Biden to Joe Biden that are reportedly loan repayments, is likely to provoke strong opposition from Democrats.
Comer has requested O’Connor to provide any documents or communications related to Jim Biden, Joe Biden’s brother, or Americore, questioning whether O’Connor can deliver an accurate and independent evaluation of the President’s fitness to serve.
In 2017, Jim Biden sought O’Connor’s assistance related to his work with Americore, as revealed by emails previously obtained by POLITICO and Jim Biden’s closed-door testimony as part of the impeachment inquiry. This included a meeting between Jim Biden, O’Connor, and the head of a Pennsylvania hospital that Americore was acquiring in July 2017, according to previous reports by POLITICO.
