Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the former White House physician who treated President Joe Biden during his time in office, is seeking to delay his scheduled testimony before Congress — a move that has triggered accusations of stalling and fueled suspicions about what he might be trying to avoid.
O’Connor was set to testify Wednesday before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee as part of an ongoing investigation into Biden’s cognitive fitness, as well as his use of an autopen to authorize official documents. But over the weekend, O’Connor’s legal team asked the committee to postpone the hearing, citing disputes over what questions would be deemed appropriate.
According to The Hill, O’Connor’s attorney, David Schertler, sent a letter to Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY), requesting that the testimony be delayed until at least July 28. In the letter, Schertler pointed to doctor-patient confidentiality as a key concern and argued that Republicans had yet to clarify the boundaries of the questioning.
However, a committee spokesperson fired back, accusing O’Connor of attempting to “stonewall” the investigation. The request for a delay — weeks in advance of questioning — has only intensified suspicion.
While doctor-patient privilege is a foundational principle in medicine, critics argue that the president of the United States is not an ordinary patient. When the health of the commander in chief may affect national security, a higher level of transparency is expected — even demanded.
This is especially true in Biden’s case. The 81-year-old has shown signs of cognitive decline in public settings for years, prompting questions about his ability to serve effectively. Those concerns only grew louder after Biden disclosed a prostate cancer diagnosis following his departure from office — raising new questions: Did he know about the diagnosis during his presidency? Was he treated while running for reelection in 2024? What medications was he on?
Answers to those questions could provide critical insight into the decisions made in the final years of his presidency — decisions that impacted domestic policy, foreign affairs, and the state of the nation.
There’s also the matter of the so-called “autopen scandal,” where Biden allegedly used a mechanical signature device to approve executive actions, including pardons and legislation. If these signatures were not his own and were executed while he was unfit or unaware, legal and constitutional implications could follow. In such a case, O’Connor’s testimony could be crucial.
The broader concern is that Biden’s physical and mental health may have been covered up — not just by his medical team, but by close advisors, family members, Democratic Party leadership, and friendly media outlets. From the start of his presidency, Biden’s moments of confusion, slurred speech, and factual mix-ups were dismissed or downplayed.
MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough once claimed Biden was “as sharp as anybody,” and CNN’s Jake Tapper waited until after Biden left office to publish a book acknowledging the media’s failure to address the president’s mental decline. Yet the signs were visible to anyone paying attention — especially during the 2024 debate against Donald Trump, where Biden’s cognitive struggles were impossible to ignore.
Given the stakes, O’Connor’s resistance to testify raises serious red flags. If he is bound by medical ethics, he should say so — but only after taking the oath and appearing before Congress. Avoiding questions before they’re even asked undermines the public’s right to know and casts doubt on the credibility of his past medical assessments.
According to the Associated Press, former President Trump has even waived executive privilege for multiple Biden-era staffers to allow their testimonies as the investigation presses forward.
Whether this probe confirms wrongdoing or simply lays rumors to rest, it remains one of the most consequential inquiries into presidential fitness in modern American history. And the outcome could reshape public trust — not just in Biden’s leadership, but in the institutions that shielded him.
This is Joe Biden’s White House Physician Kevin O’Connor
Subpoena him.
Ask if he ever did a cancer screening.
When he pleads the 5th — that’s all you need to know. pic.twitter.com/ZYVBoXzbHF
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) May 19, 2025