Home Republicans are opening an investigation into President Joe Biden’s physician within the wake of his debate efficiency — the newest signal that Democrats’ political complications are solely rising.
Home Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) despatched a letter to White Home doctor Kevin O’Connor on Sunday requesting that he seem behind closed doorways for a transcribed interview with committee counsel. Comer is giving O’Connor till July 14 to contact employees to schedule the interview.
“Individuals query President Biden’s means to steer the nation. … [The committee] is investigating circumstances surrounding your evaluation in February of this yr that ‘President Biden is a wholesome, lively, sturdy 81-year-old-male, who stays match to efficiently execute the duties of the Presidency,” Comer wrote within the letter, a replica of which was obtained by POLITICO.
O’Connor, in his February report, stated that Biden took “an especially detailed neurologic examination” and that there have been “no findings which might be per any cerebellar or different central neurological dysfunction.” He additionally described Biden as having a stiffer gait, however that he’s a “wholesome, vigorous, 80-year-old male, who’s match to efficiently execute the duties of the presidency.”
Comer is the primary Home Republican to open an investigation within the wake of Biden’s debate efficiency that has sparked rising issues amongst Democrats — together with calls from a handful of Home lawmakers for him to step out of the presidential race. Biden has been adamant that he’s staying within the race, although an ABC Information sitdown didn’t quell the open skepticism throughout the social gathering.
There was already rising panic amongst Democrats that the political fallout from Biden’s debate efficiency might spill into congressional fights because the GOP’s marketing campaign arms rapidly rushed to attempt to field in Home and Senate Democrats about in the event that they believed Biden was match for workplace.
However Comer’s letter can also be an indication that Home Republicans will even use the powers of their slim majority to weigh into the fallout. There’s been a rising push from the Home’s proper flank, including members of Comer’s committee, for Republicans to take such a step, with GOP members floating launch hearings or subpoenaing White Home officers, O’Connor specifically.
And the Kentucky Republican, in his letter to O’Connor, linked the investigation again to a separate impeachment inquiry, which has largely centered on the household offers of Biden’s relations. Republicans don’t have the votes to question Biden, as they’ve didn’t win over skeptics inside their very own convention who don’t imagine that investigators have proven that Biden dedicated against the law or an impeachable offense. And whereas Democrats have additionally voiced issues about Biden’s psychological acuity over the past week, Comer referencing his impeachment inquiry investigation — as properly two checks from Jim Biden to Joe Biden that representatives for each have repeatedly stated are mortgage repayments — is prone to spark fierce Democratic pushback.
The White Home expressed skepticism Sunday.
“Right here they go once more, pushing their loopy, discredited conspiracy theories with a purpose to rating one other hit on [Maria] Bartiromo,” stated White Home spokesperson Ian Sams when requested about Comer’s investigation.
Sams also pointed to recent reporting on now-Rep. Ronny Jackson‘s time because the White Home doctor as a possible place to start out “if excessive Home Republicans need to check out a White Home doctor.”
Comer is asking O’Connor at hand over any paperwork or communications he has that relate to Jim Biden, Joe Biden’s brother, or Americore, questioning if O’Connor is “ready to offer correct and impartial critiques of the President’s health to serve.”
Jim Biden requested O’Connor’s assist in 2017 — when Joe Biden was out of workplace — as a part of his work linked to Americore, in accordance with emails beforehand obtained by POLITICO and Jim Biden’s closed-door interview as a part of the impeachment inquiry. That features Jim Biden and O’Connor assembly with the pinnacle of a Pennsylvania hospital that Americore was within the means of buying in July 2017, POLITICO beforehand reported.
