House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) is requesting President Biden’s physician to give a transcribed interview in connection with the committee’s investigation into Biden’s family.
Comer told White House physician Kevin O’Connor the committee is “concerned your medical assessments have been influenced by your private business endeavors with the Biden family,” in a letter sent to O’Connor on Sunday.
Comer pointed to a recent article from The Washington Post that reported O’Connor has never recommended the president take a cognitive test.
“After a concerning debate performance by President Biden against former President Donald Trump on June 27, journalists have rushed to report on what Americans have seen plainly for years: the President appears unwell,” Comer wrote.
“Americans question President Biden’s ability to lead the country, and the Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating circumstances surrounding your assessment in February of this year that ‘President Biden is a healthy, active, robust 81-year-old-male, who remains fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency,’” Comer continued.
Biden’s debate performance sparked concerns among Democrats and pundits that he may not be fit to serve another term as president. Biden, 81, has pushed back on the concerns and calls to step down from the ticket, saying that he is still the best candidate to beat former President Trump.
Comer has been a key figure in the GOP’s impeachment inquiry into Biden. However, the investigation has yet to solidify evidence that Biden was involved in his son’s foreign business deals while serving as vice president or that his family has engaged in corruption.
Comer is asking O’Connor to provide answers on his “independence,” according to the letter.
“You have repeatedly refused most interview requests from the media, and the Committee now turns to you to provide answers regarding your independence because of the mixed and confused messaging coming from the White House regarding the President’s ability to perform his job,” Comer wrote.
Comer pointed to Biden’s answers to some questions during an ABC News interview on Friday. When asked if he would be willing to take a cognitive test, Biden said, “I have a cognitive test every single day.”
The medical exam by O’Connor in February found that Biden is “fit for duty.”
Comer is also asking O’Connor to provide documents related to Americore Health and James Biden, the president’s brother. James Biden had asked for O’Connor’s help in 2017 in connection to his work with Americore, according to a transcript of an interview with the committee and a Politico report earlier this year.
“Given your connections with the Biden family, the Committee also seeks to understand if you are in a position to provide accurate and independent reviews of the President’s fitness to serve,” Comer wrote.
Comer asked O’Connor to contact his staff by July 14 to schedule an interview.
White House spokesperson Ian Sams dismissed Comer’s letter in a statement to The Hill.
“Here they go again, pushing their crazy, discredited conspiracy theories in order to score another hit on Bartiromo,” Sams said, referring to Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo.
He then referred The Hill to a Washington Post piece that reported that many of the issues within the White House Medical Unit were traced back to now-Rep. Ronny Jackson, who served as the White House physician under the Trump administration.
“If extreme House Republicans want to take a look at a White House physician, here’s an idea for where to start,” Sams said, with a link to the article.
Updated 7:16 p.m. ET.
