Congress subpoenas Biden's doctor amid cognitive decline allegations

In June 2025, the House Oversight Committee, led by Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., issued a subpoena to Dr. Kevin O'Connor, personal physician of former President Joe Biden, as part of an investigation into allegations of a possible cover-up concerning Biden's cognitive decline during his presidency. The committee's interest in this matter escalated after Republicans claimed there had been a systematic effort to conceal the president's mental health issues from the public. Concerns about Biden's cognitive abilities intensified following his exit from the White House, particularly after his prostate cancer diagnosis. The allegations not only raised questions about Biden's health but also suggested potential conflicts of interest since O'Connor has had a long-standing relationship with the Biden family since 2009. The subpoenaed testimony aimed to clarify whether Dr. O'Connor's financial connections to the Biden family influenced his medical assessments regarding the former president's fitness for office. Previously, O'Connor had reported that Biden maintained good health throughout his presidency, and his assessments had resulted in clean bills of health. However, critics, including Jeffrey Kuhlman, Obama's former doctor, argued that the assessments failed to include adequate cognitive testing. Kuhlman emphasized that politicians over the age of 70 should undergo thorough cognitive examinations on an annual basis to ensure their fitness for office. The chairman, Comer, asserted that this investigation is vital to hold those accountable for any potential misconduct regarding Biden's mental fitness and seeks to ensure transparency about the health evaluations conducted during his presidency. This inquiry follows previous blocks from the White House preventing O'Connor from appearing for interviews regarding Biden's health assessments, further fueling speculation about the transparency of the former President's health status. As the investigation proceeds, the implications for both Biden and the broader political landscape remain uncertain.