The House Oversight Committee is seeking to learn more about the role of White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor after conflicting reports emerged about whether President Joe Biden underwent a cognitive test following his disastrous debate.
White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre repeatedly stressed during a press conference on Tuesday that Biden had not been to the doctor to take a test of his mental acuity. This contradicts what the president himself said during a meeting with governors last week. He said he had visited his doctor after the debate and that everything was fine.
“The statements from the White House press secretary and President Biden appear inconsistent, and the committee would like to understand the extent of your role in the White House at this time,” Oversight Chairman James Comer wrote in a letter to the doctor on Saturday.
According to a White House official who spoke to The Washington Post, O’Connor never recommended that Biden take a cognitive test. Now, House Republicans are questioning whether that’s because of a financial conflict.
President Joe Biden’s physician, Kevin O’Connor (R), is being called upon to “produce all documents and communications in your possession regarding Americore and James Biden” as questions arise over his opposition to Biden’s request for a cognitive test
“The Oversight Committee is concerned that your medical evaluations may have been influenced by your private business activities with the Biden family,” Comer wrote.
Biden denies he has any long-term mental health issues, saying in his first post-debate TV interview that there is “no evidence of a serious condition.”
Speaking to ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on Friday, Biden repeatedly rejected the idea of seeking an independent medical evaluation that would show voters he could serve another term.
And now Rep. Comer is asking Dr. O’Connor for clarity on his business involvement with Americore, where the President’s brother, James Biden, served as a director. James sent $200,000 to President Biden while the company was in financial distress.
“On March 1, 2018, the same day James Biden received the $200,000 wire transfer from Americore into his bank account, James Biden wrote a check to his brother, Joe Biden, for $200,000 for a “loan repayment,” the letter to the committee states.
It added: ‘In February of this year, the Committee conducted a transcribed interview with James Biden. During the interview, James Biden confirmed that you provided him with advice in connection with the alleged work he performed for Americore.’
“Given your connections to the Biden family, the committee also wants to know whether you are able to provide accurate and independent assessments of the President’s fitness to serve.”