Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the former White House physician to President Joe Biden, has requested to postpone his scheduled testimony before the House Oversight Committee, which is currently investigating Biden’s mental fitness and the White House’s use of an autopen during his presidency.
O’Connor had been set to appear before the committee on Wednesday but is now at odds with lawmakers over the scope of questions he may be asked. His legal team sent a letter to Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) requesting a delay until July 28 or August 4, citing legal and ethical concerns.
“Dr. O’Connor has legal and ethical obligations that he must satisfy and for which violations carry serious consequences to him professionally and personally,” the letter stated.
The committee subpoenaed O’Connor as part of its broader investigation into concerns over President Biden’s cognitive decline and allegations that key documents and decisions were being signed using an autopen—possibly without Biden’s direct involvement.
O’Connor’s attorneys also raised alarm over what they called an unprecedented move by Congress: compelling a physician to testify about a specific patient’s medical care.
“We are unaware of any prior occasion on which a Congressional Committee has subpoenaed a physician to testify about the treatment of an individual patient,” the letter continued. “The notion that such a request would be made without any regard for physician-patient confidentiality is alarming.”
In response, a spokesperson for the Oversight Committee accused O’Connor of attempting to delay the investigation.
“Dr. O’Connor is trying to stonewall the committee’s efforts,” the spokesperson said, adding that the panel still expects him to appear as scheduled. “He may object to specific questions during testimony, but he cannot ignore a lawful subpoena.”
The dispute follows weeks of mounting scrutiny over how decisions were made in the Biden White House. In June, former senior aide Neera Tanden testified to the committee that she had the authority to direct autopen signatures on official documents—but admitted she had little direct interaction with President Biden and was unclear on who exactly gave final approvals.
“Ms. Tanden testified that she had minimal interaction with President Biden, despite wielding tremendous authority,” Chairman Comer said after the hearing. “Her testimony raises serious questions about who was really making decisions in the West Wing while the President’s mental capacity was clearly deteriorating.”
Tanden told lawmakers that as staff secretary and senior advisor between 2021 and 2023, she routed decision memos to Biden’s inner circle for approval and often did not know who signed off before autopen use resumed.
As the committee presses forward with its investigation, the battle over O’Connor’s testimony highlights the legal and political tensions surrounding Biden’s final years in office. Critics argue the former president’s inner circle shielded him from scrutiny as his cognitive abilities declined, while defenders insist Biden remained in control and that concerns are politically motivated.
