Was this a closed hearing ? It's hard to tell. The article seems to suggest it was since the article seems to rely on Comer for its report. If it was a closed hearing and Comer is the only source, I will take this with a grain of salt given the GOPers' history of lying and distorting closed door testimony.
Especially Comer.
This is what O’Connor’s counsel said —
www.newsweek.com
Just don't understand how a Trumpervcsn post here.This is what O’Connor’s counsel said —
Read Joe Biden doctor's full statement on refusing to testify
Dr. Kevin O'Connor cited physician-patient privilege and the right against self-incrimination under the Fifth Amendment.
This Committee has indicated to Dr. O'Connor and his attorneys that it does not intend to honor one of the most well-known privileges in our law — the physician-patient privilege. Instead, the Committee has indicated that it will demand that Dr. O'Connor reveal, without any limitations, confidential information regarding his medical examinations, treatment, and care of President Biden. Revealing confidential patient information would violate the most fundamental ethical duty of a physician, could result in revocation of Dr. O'Connor's medical license, and would subject Dr. O'Connor to potential civil liability. Dr. O'Connor will not violate his oath of confidentiality to any of his patients, including President Biden.
Furthermore, through the issuance of a Presidential Memorandum dated June 4, 2025, President Trump has directed the Department of Justice and the White House Counsel to conduct a parallel criminal investigation into the same topics being investigated by this Committee. In fact, just this past Sunday, Chairman Comer himself confirmed on Fox News that "Pam Bondi has announced an investigation at the Department of Justice into the illegal use of the autopen." We believe that the Committee should hold its investigation in abeyance until any criminal investigation has concluded.
The totality of the circumstances surrounding this Committee's investigation leave Dr. O'Connor no choice but to decline to answer questions on two overlapping grounds.
We want to emphasize that asserting the Fifth Amendment privilege does not imply that Dr. O'Connor has committed any crime. In fact, to the contrary, as our Supreme Courthas emphasized:
- First, the physician-patient privilege and the physician's ethical duty of confidentiality require that Dr. O'Connor refuse to testify about any aspect of his care and treatment of President Biden.
- Second, the pending Department of Justice criminal investigation leaves Dr. O'Connor no choice but to invoke his constitutional rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution to any questions posed by the Committee.
"One of the Fifth Amendment's basic functions is to protect innocent men who otherwise might be ensnared by ambiguous circumstances."
For these reasons, Dr. O'Connor will respectfully decline to answer any questions that might be posed to him by this Committee.
As the late great Paul Harvey used to say at the end of his reports... " and now you know the rest of the story "This is what O’Connor’s counsel said —
Read Joe Biden doctor's full statement on refusing to testify
Dr. Kevin O'Connor cited physician-patient privilege and the right against self-incrimination under the Fifth Amendment.
This Committee has indicated to Dr. O'Connor and his attorneys that it does not intend to honor one of the most well-known privileges in our law — the physician-patient privilege. Instead, the Committee has indicated that it will demand that Dr. O'Connor reveal, without any limitations, confidential information regarding his medical examinations, treatment, and care of President Biden. Revealing confidential patient information would violate the most fundamental ethical duty of a physician, could result in revocation of Dr. O'Connor's medical license, and would subject Dr. O'Connor to potential civil liability. Dr. O'Connor will not violate his oath of confidentiality to any of his patients, including President Biden.
Furthermore, through the issuance of a Presidential Memorandum dated June 4, 2025, President Trump has directed the Department of Justice and the White House Counsel to conduct a parallel criminal investigation into the same topics being investigated by this Committee. In fact, just this past Sunday, Chairman Comer himself confirmed on Fox News that "Pam Bondi has announced an investigation at the Department of Justice into the illegal use of the autopen." We believe that the Committee should hold its investigation in abeyance until any criminal investigation has concluded.
The totality of the circumstances surrounding this Committee's investigation leave Dr. O'Connor no choice but to decline to answer questions on two overlapping grounds.
We want to emphasize that asserting the Fifth Amendment privilege does not imply that Dr. O'Connor has committed any crime. In fact, to the contrary, as our Supreme Courthas emphasized:
- First, the physician-patient privilege and the physician's ethical duty of confidentiality require that Dr. O'Connor refuse to testify about any aspect of his care and treatment of President Biden.
- Second, the pending Department of Justice criminal investigation leaves Dr. O'Connor no choice but to invoke his constitutional rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution to any questions posed by the Committee.
"One of the Fifth Amendment's basic functions is to protect innocent men who otherwise might be ensnared by ambiguous circumstances."
For these reasons, Dr. O'Connor will respectfully decline to answer any questions that might be posed to him by this Committee.
apnews.com