• Dr. Kevin O'Connor refused to answer questions during a deposition regarding President Biden's health.
• O'Connor invoked physician-patient privilege and Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.
• The House Oversight Committee is investigating claims about Biden's mental acuity and use of an autopen signature.
• Rep. James Comer criticized O'Connor’s decision, suggesting it reflects a cover-up regarding Biden's health.
• Biden has strongly denied allegations concerning his mental fitness during his presidency.

On Wednesday, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, former President Joe Biden's physician, appeared before the House Oversight Committee but declined to answer questions related to Biden's health. Citing physician-patient privilege and the Fifth Amendment, O'Connor stated, "The totality of the circumstances surrounding this Committee's investigation leave Dr. O'Connor no choice but to decline to answer questions," according to Newsweek and HuffPost.

The House Oversight Committee, chaired by Rep. James Comer, is conducting a Republican-led investigation into allegations about Biden's mental fitness and the validity of documents signed with an autopen during his presidency. Comer insisted that the American people have a right to know the health condition of the president, labeling O'Connor's refusal as "unprecedented" and suggesting it indicates an attempt to cover up the truth, reports CBS News and Los Angeles Times.

During the private deposition, O'Connor was directed to provide information regarding his medical assessments of Biden, specifically referencing a report from February 2024 that characterized Biden as a "healthy, active, robust 81-year-old male," according to ABC News and India Times.

O'Connor's refusal to testify has triggered further scrutiny and calls for transparency concerning Biden's health, especially in light of his recent cancer diagnosis. Critically, several of Biden's former aides have been subpoenaed, as the investigation aims to address controversial uses of the autopen in signing official documents, as highlighted by Newsweek and NPR.

In response to the ongoing inquiry, Biden has characterized the concerns about his cognitive fitness as "ridiculous and false," a sentiment echoed by those defending his administration against the claims being investigated. Biden's assertion of cognitive competence is further supported by testimonies from aides, including Neera Tanden, who stated there was no effort to disguise his health condition, according to HuffPost and Newsweek.