President Trump is waiving executive privilege for Dr. Kevin O’Connor, former White House physician to Joe Biden, clearing the way for his testimony Wednesday before the House Oversight Committee as part of its investigation into Biden’s mental fitness while in office.
The move, confirmed by a letter from the Trump White House counsel’s office, states that “assertion of executive privilege is not in the national interest” regarding O’Connor’s “assessment of former President Biden’s fitness for the office of the president” and “financial relationship with the Biden family.” The letter said the president determined that such testimony was necessary given “the unique and extraordinary nature” of the matter under investigation.
O’Connor had been subpoenaed last week by Chairman James Comer after declining to appear voluntarily for a transcribed interview. His lawyers requested a delay over the weekend, calling the investigation “unprecedented” and arguing that it threatened the confidentiality of the physician-patient relationship.
The Trump White House’s letter emphasized that “evidence that aides to former President Biden concealed information regarding his fitness… and may have unconstitutionally exercised those powers themselves” justified cooperation with the committee. The counsel’s office concluded that Congress’s need for transparency in this case outweighed the Executive Branch’s interest in confidentiality.
Update: Dr. O’Connor appeared at the Rayburn House Office Building shortly after 9:30 a.m on Wednesday. He did not respond to questions from reporters and ultimately declined to answer House committee questions, citing confidentiality concerns.
