Ex-White House doctor silent under GOP scrutiny

Dr. Kevin O’Connor, once President Joe Biden’s trusted physician, clammed up tighter than a bank vault during a House Oversight Committee grilling. His refusal to spill the beans on Biden’s health has conservatives crying foul, while his legal team insists he’s just protecting sacred doctor-patient vows. It’s a showdown that smells more like a cover-up than a Hippocratic oath.

The House Oversight Committee, chaired by Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., hauled O’Connor in for a 30-minute closed-door chat Wednesday, probing allegations of a White House scheme to hide Biden’s mental and physical decline. Comer, with former White House physician Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, in his corner, wanted answers about neurological tests or cognitive concerns during Biden’s term. O’Connor, however, played the Fifth Amendment card like a poker pro, dodging every question except those about his name.

O’Connor’s legal team argued the committee’s fishing expedition risked shattering doctor-patient confidentiality, potentially costing him his medical license. They sent a letter begging for a delay, citing ethical duties, but Comer wasn’t buying it and pressed forward. The stage was set for a tense standoff, with conservatives smelling a rat and Biden’s allies waving away the accusations.

Privilege Claims Fall Flat

Rep. Ronny Jackson, who served as White House physician under Presidents Obama and Trump, didn’t mince words, claiming O’Connor had “nothing to stand on except for pleading the Fifth.” Jackson pointed out that President Trump waived presidential privilege, and the committee made it clear that the patient-doctor privilege didn’t apply under subpoena. Yet O’Connor’s silence spoke louder than any diagnosis, fueling suspicions of a deeper White House secret.

“Well, you can’t do both,” Jackson quipped, tearing into O’Connor’s attempt to hide behind confidentiality while invoking the Fifth. His jab cut to the heart of the matter: if O’Connor’s so worried about ethics, why not answer at least some questions? The dodge only deepens the conservative case that something’s being swept under the rug.

The committee, prepped with Jackson’s medical expertise and input from the broader medical community, crafted pointed questions about Biden’s health, including whether autopen signatures were used for executive actions without his full awareness. O’Connor’s refusal to engage left lawmakers frustrated, with Comer signaling the probe is far from over. Biden’s allies, meanwhile, insist there’s no cover-up, calling the investigation a partisan witch hunt.

Ethical Duty or Evasion?

O’Connor’s attorneys doubled down, claiming the committee’s demand for unlimited access to Biden’s medical details was a blatant disregard for “one of the most well-known privileges in our law.” They argued that spilling confidential patient info could lead to civil liability and a revoked license. It’s a compelling defense, but conservatives see it as a convenient shield for avoiding hard truths.

“Revealing confidential patient information would violate the most fundamental ethical duty of a physician,” O’Connor’s legal team declared. Yet their lofty rhetoric rings hollow when you consider the committee’s legal authority to override privilege in this case. The insistence on silence feels less like a principle and more like a calculated move to stonewall.

Jackson didn’t hold back, alleging O’Connor was complicit in a cover-up, stating, “The cover-up could not have happened without the assistance and the help of his physician.” It’s a bold claim, and while there’s no smoking gun yet, O’Connor’s mute act isn’t doing him any favors. The public deserves transparency, not a doctor playing hide-and-seek with the facts.

Investigation Gains Momentum

The House Oversight Committee’s probe is zeroing in on whether Biden’s top aides orchestrated a scheme to conceal his declining health from the public. Comer emphasized that the questions for O’Connor were carefully crafted to avoid fishing expeditions, focusing on specific medical and ethical concerns. O’Connor’s refusal to cooperate only pours fuel on the fire of conservative skepticism.

Biden’s defenders argue the allegations are baseless, accusing Republicans of weaponizing the investigation for political gain. But when a physician ducks every question under oath, it’s hard to shake the feeling that something’s amiss. The committee’s next steps could either expose a scandal or fizzle out as another GOP overreach.

Jackson’s role as both advisor and critic adds a layer of intrigue, given his firsthand experience in the White House medical unit. His assertion that O’Connor had no legal leg to stand on cuts through the fog of legal excuses. If privilege doesn’t apply, what’s stopping O’Connor from clearing the air?

Public Trust at Stake

The standoff between O’Connor and the committee raises bigger questions about transparency in the highest office. If Biden’s physician won’t talk, even under subpoena, what does that say about the administration’s openness? Conservatives argue this is exactly why voters distrust the progressive elite—too much secrecy, not enough accountability.

Comer’s investigation, while divisive, taps into a broader conservative frustration with a White House that seems allergic to straight answers. O’Connor’s silence, whether principled or evasive, only deepens the divide. The American people deserve to know if their leader’s health was hidden from view.

As the probe continues, expect more fireworks from Jackson and Comer, who show no signs of backing down. O’Connor’s Fifth Amendment gambit might buy him time, but it’s a risky bet when public trust is on the line. In a nation craving clarity, his silence is deafening.