Washington, D.C. – As former President Joe Biden’s health remains under scrutiny following his May 2025 prostate cancer diagnosis, pressure is mounting to bring his former White House physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, before Congress to testify under oath about his assessments that Biden was fit to lead. Critics, including Republican lawmakers and voices on social media, argue O’Connor’s February 2024 declaration that Biden was a “healthy, active, robust 81-year-old” misrepresented the president’s condition, especially given his recent Stage 4 cancer diagnosis. The debate has reignited questions about transparency and accountability in the Biden administration.
O’Connor, a retired Army colonel who served as Biden’s physician from 2009 until March 2025, faced calls to testify as early as July 2024, when House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer demanded his appearance. Comer’s letter, citing Biden’s faltering debate performance against Donald Trump in June 2024, questioned whether O’Connor’s ties to the Biden family—particularly a 2017 business venture with James Biden involving Americore Health—compromised his objectivity. Comer sought clarity on why O’Connor did not recommend cognitive testing, despite public concerns about Biden’s mental acuity. O’Connor did not comply with the request, and the issue faded as Biden left office.
The recent revelation of Biden’s aggressive prostate cancer, missed during his 2024 physical, has renewed demands for accountability. Posts on X, including from users like
@beauvais_ed and
@Ravious101, allege O’Connor either overlooked the cancer or concealed it, with some calling for his medical license to be revoked or even criminal charges. A May 19 post by
@Victoria00025 asked, “Would you support Dr. Kevin O’Connor be brought in under oath after saying Biden was completely fit for the Presidency?” fueling public sentiment that O’Connor’s assessments misled the nation. Neurologist Dr. Elizabeth Kamenar, quoted in a September 2024 X post, argued O’Connor’s clean bill of health was “malpractice and fraud.”
Supporters of O’Connor, including former colleagues, defend his integrity. Retired Army Colonel Dr. John Holcomb told ABC News that O’Connor would have alerted the public if he believed Biden was unfit, emphasizing his duty to prioritize the country. The White House has dismissed allegations of bias, with former spokesperson Ian Sams calling them “discredited conspiracy theories.” Biden’s February 2024 exam, detailed in a six-page report by O’Connor, noted minor ailments like high cholesterol and spinal arthritis but found no neurological issues, including Parkinson’s, after an “extremely detailed” exam.
Legal experts question the feasibility of compelling O’Connor to testify now that Biden is no longer president. Congressional oversight typically focuses on current officials, and Okininow v. United States (2023) limits forcing former federal employees to testify about past duties. However, Republicans could leverage public pressure or subpoena power if they pursue broader investigations into Biden’s presidency. The House Oversight Committee has not yet announced plans to revisit O’Connor’s case.
Critics argue that O’Connor’s silence—never addressing the press directly, even during Biden’s 2022 COVID-19 bout—fueled distrust. His business ties with James Biden, though uncompensated per The New York Times, raise ethical questions. As Biden battles cancer, the nation grapples with whether O’Connor’s assurances were overly optimistic or deliberately misleading. For now, the call for his testimony remains a rallying cry for accountability.
