President Trump just dropped a bombshell by waiving executive privilege for former White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor, clearing the path for some potentially explosive testimony.
The Washington Examiner reported that Trump has allowed Dr. O’Connor to speak before the House Oversight Committee about former President Biden’s fitness for office and any financial connections to the Biden family, as detailed in a letter from Deputy Counsel Gary Lawkowski obtained by the Washington Examiner.
“Extraordinary events constituted exceptional circumstances warranting an accommodation to Congress,” Lawkowski wrote in his letter to Dr. O’Connor. Well, that’s one way to put it—when the curtain’s pulled back, you can bet the Oversight Committee will be taking notes with a magnifying glass.
Trump’s call to waive privilege specifically targets O’Connor’s insights into Biden’s capability to serve as president and any monetary ties with the Biden clan. Lawkowski argued this isn’t about undermining executive confidentiality but ensuring Congress can do its job, a rare moment where legislative oversight gets the upper hand.
After weighing the interests of both branches, Lawkowski noted the President sees this as a unique situation where transparency outweighs the need to keep things under wraps. It’s almost refreshing to see such a nod to accountability, especially when the executive branch itself wants to scrutinize past actions.
Lawkowski was clear in his letter: “Trump has determined that an assertion of executive privilege is not in the national interest.”
That’s a polite way of saying it’s time to air some laundry, and one can’t help but wonder if this is less about principle and more about political chess.
The waiver zeroes in on O’Connor’s professional assessments and financial links, which could paint a damning picture if there’s anything untoward to uncover. For conservatives tired of endless stonewalling, this feels like a long-overdue crack in the wall of bureaucratic opacity.
Interestingly, Lawkowski also mentioned not requesting agency counsel to be present at the deposition. It’s a small detail, but it signals Trump’s team isn’t looking to babysit the process—let the chips fall where they may.
Dr. O’Connor was slated to face the House Oversight Committee this week, but he’s pushing for a delay to either July 28 or August 4.
His lawyer, David Schertler, penned a letter obtained by NBC News, pleading for more time to navigate the legal and ethical minefield of doctor-patient confidentiality.
“It would be an unnecessary spectacle to require Dr. O’Connor to testify before your Committee next week without any accommodations,” Schertler argued.
While one sympathizes with the ethical tightrope O’Connor walks, conservatives might see this as a stalling tactic to dodge hard questions.
Schertler also called it “alarming” that a congressional body would subpoena a doctor about a patient’s private treatment. Fair point on privacy, but when public office and potential conflicts of interest are on the line, shouldn’t the American people get some answers?
House Oversight Committee Chairman Comer wasn’t having any of O’Connor’s delay request, flat-out rejecting the plea to push back the hearing.
It’s a firm stance that signals Congress isn’t in the mood for excuses, especially on a matter this weighty.
For those of us skeptical of endless government obfuscation, Comer’s refusal to budge is a small victory against the progressive tendency to hide behind procedural red tape.
Still, one hopes O’Connor gets a fair shake to prepare without being railroaded—balance matters, even in pursuit of truth.