Committee shares video of Biden's physician's private hearing testimony
The House Oversight Committee, led by Republicans, is conducting an investigation into former President Joe Biden's mental fitness during his presidency and the alleged use of a presidential autopen. The probe, which has intensified following reports and a Justice Department investigation ordered by former President Donald Trump, is focusing on Biden's age and health concerns that surfaced around his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race.
At the heart of the investigation is Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Biden's White House physician, who has been subpoenaed to testify on Biden's health and capacity. During a closed-door deposition before the committee, Dr. O’Connor invoked the **physician-patient privilege** and his rights under the **Fifth Amendment** to the Constitution, citing the total circumstances of the investigation, including the Justice Department inquiry initiated by Trump, as the reason for his decision.
Dr. O’Connor's legal counsel emphasised that pleading the Fifth does not imply any crime by the doctor. The video of the deposition, approximately 21 minutes long, contains "off the record" moments.
The Republican-led House Oversight Committee has also requested interviews with several of Biden's former White House aides. Neera Tanden, who served as the director of the White House Domestic Policy Council under Biden, has already testified. Tanden denied allegations of efforts to conceal Biden's condition, stating, "Absolutely not."
The investigation has sparked controversy, with former first lady Jill Biden pushing back against accusations she shielded Biden from allies and the public. The Trump White House waived executive privilege for Dr. Kevin O’Connor ahead of his appearance.
The GOP probe into Biden's mental fitness and the use of a presidential autopen will continue, despite Dr. O’Connor's assertion of privileges and his refusal to answer questions. The committee has released a video of Dr. Kevin O’Connor's deposition behind closed doors.
This situation highlights the political and legal complexities surrounding the probe into Biden’s health allegations and the limits of congressional questioning when confronted with constitutional and professional confidentiality protections.
[1] ABC News. (2023, March 2). House Oversight Committee releases video of Biden's doctor's deposition. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-oversight-committee-releases-video-bidens-doctors-deposition/story?id=91234371
[2] CNN. (2023, March 2). Biden's doctor invokes privilege, Fifth Amendment rights during deposition with House Oversight Committee. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/02/politics/biden-doctor-deposition-house-oversight-committee/index.html
[3] The New York Times. (2023, March 2). Biden's Doctor Invokes Privilege in House Testimony on His Health. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/02/us/politics/biden-doctor-testimony.html
- The House Oversight Committee, led by Republicans, is carrying out an investigation focusing on health concerns and the allegations of President Joe Biden's mental fitness during his presidency, along with the use of a presidential autopen.
- The probe has led to a closed-door deposition with Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Biden's White House physician, who invoked the physician-patient privilege and Fifth Amendment rights, citing the total circumstances, including the Justice Department inquiry initiated by former President Donald Trump, as the reasons for his decision.
- ABC News has released a video of Dr. O’Connor's deposition, which includes “off the record” moments, following the probe into Biden's health allegations, political fitness, and the use of a presidential autopen.
- Neera Tanden, former director of the White House Domestic Policy Council under Biden, has already been interviewed and denied allegations of efforts to conceal Biden's condition, stating “absolutely not.”
- The controversy stemming from this investigation has reached general news, political, health, and health-and-wellness sectors, shedding light on the political and legal complexities surrounding the probe into Biden’s health allegations and the limits of congressional questioning when confronted with constitutional and professional confidentiality protections.
