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Biden Administration Says President Isn’t Being Treated for Parkinson’s, Dodges Questions on Doctor Visits
The Biden administration refused to explain on Monday why a Parkinson’s disease specialist visited President Joe Biden’s physician earlier this year, one of eight visits to the White House, as the president’s advanced age, 81, continues to be in the spotlight because of his disastrous debate performance.
Parkinson’s disease expert Dr. Kevin Cannard visited Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, in January, one of eight visits Cannard has made over an eight-month period starting last year, according to visitor logs first reported by the New York Post over the weekend.
This afternoon, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre faced a slew of questions about Biden’s health and Cannard’s visits, beginning with a round of questions from Associated Press reporter Zeke Miller on Biden’s “verbal check-in” with his doctor after his horrific debate performance. Jean-Pierre dodged Miller’s questions on Parkinson’s and quoted from his physical earlier this year, clearing him of Parkinson’s.
Shortly thereafter, CBS reporter Ed O’Keefe pressed Jean-Pierre on Cannard’s visits and her refusal to specifically answer questions about them.
“Ed, please, a little respect here,” Jean-Pierre said to O’Keefe after telling him to calm down.
“I am telling you that he has seen a neurologist three times while he has been in this presidency,” Jean-Pierre asserted as O’Keefe kept pressing her on Cannard’s visits.
“We cannot share names,” Jean-Pierre said repeatedly while acknowledging that White House visitor logs are publicly available.
“I cannot, from here, confirm any of that because we have to keep their privacy,” Jean-Pierre said, with multiple reporters interrupting her. She continued refusing to confirm the details of Cannard’s visits and told O’Keefe she would not answer his questions no matter how hard he pushed.
“Has the president been treated for Parkinson’s? No. Is he being treated for Parkinson’s? No, he’s not. Is he taking medication for Parkinson’s? No,” Jean-Pierre stated after facing additional questions on Biden’s health.
Cannard is a Parkinson’s expert with nearly two decades of experience working at the Walter Reed Medical Center. Last year, he co-authored a research paper on the early onset of Parkinson’s.
Campaign finance records show Cannard repeatedly donated to Biden’s presidential campaign, with his most recent donation taking place in May. The Washington Examiner first reported the donations records.
In February, O’Connor cleared Joe Biden and said he was fit for the presidency after Biden took his annual physical. Now, House Republicans are investigating whether O’Connor’s medical evaluations were influenced by his relationship with the Biden family.
“The Oversight Committee is concerned your medical assessments have been influenced by your private business endeavors with the Biden family,” House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R., Ky.) wrote in a letter to O’Connor on Sunday. Comer said O’Connor was involved with bankrupt rural hospital company Americore, a firm that paid Joe Biden’s brother James over $600,000 for advisory services.
Questions surrounding Biden’s mental capacity and ability to hold the nation’s highest office have become more pronounced following his disastrous presidential debate performance marked by a slurring of words and incoherent answers.
A barrage of news stories detailing Biden’s struggles behind the scenes and public calls for him to step aside have added to the conversations about whether Biden will continue running for reelection.
Biden remains adamant that he should be the Democratic party’s presidential nominee, and is refusing to take an independent neurological examination to reassure the public of his fitness to serve.