Biden physician releases letter explaining Parkinson's specialist

After a negative news cycle stretching into days and a disastrous White House press briefing Monday, President Joe Biden’s physician spoke out about the neurologist who specializes in Parkinson’s disease visiting the Executive Mansion.

White House physician Kevin O’Connor released a letter Monday night explaining that the specialist, Dr. Kevin Cannard, took part in Biden’s annual physicals “not because he is a movement disorder specialist, but because he is a highly trained and highly regarded neurologist here at Walter Reed and across the Military Health System, with a very wide expertise which makes him flexible to see a variety of patients and problems.”

Dr. O’Connor also said the president did not see a neurologist outside his annual physicals and that Biden’s last physical found no signs of Parkinson’s.

NEW: White House releases letter from POTUS’ personal physician saying neurologist has made several visits for clinics aimed at those “in support of the White House and its personnel” and reiterates no signs of “central neurological disorder” was found in POTUS’ most recent exam. pic.twitter.com/ZDNuqTC5qV

— Jim Lokay (@Lokay) July 9, 2024

According to visitor logs, Cannard visited the White House eight times in an eight-month span between July and March of this year, including one visit with Biden’s personal physician. O’Connor said Cannard has been seeing patients at the White House “for a dozen years,” which suggests some of his visits were to see other people.

In a related matter, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) released a statement Sunday alleging that O’Connor was involved in business dealings with the Biden family “that resulted in $200K landing in Joe Biden’s bank account.”

Comer called on the physician to appear before the committee and provide requested documents and communications related to his involvement in the Biden family’s financial activity.

“The Oversight Committee is concerned your medical assessments have been influenced by your private business endeavors with the Biden family,” he wrote.

@RepJamesComer reveals President Biden’s physician was involved in the Bidens’ business dealings that resulted in $200K landing in Joe Biden’s bank account.

Did his involvement impact his medical assessments of the President?

We are calling on him to testify & provide docs. pic.twitter.com/HJ6rTgRawX

— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) July 7, 2024

Chaos ensued during Monday’s press briefing when White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre battled with suddenly inquisitive reporters, citing privacy concerns in refusing to identify Dr. Cannard or release any details of his visits.

Absolute CHAOS erupts in the briefing room as Karine Jean-Pierre repeatedly declines to say why a renown Parkinson’s expert has visited the Biden White House so many times in recent months pic.twitter.com/LNOsHE1hFr

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 8, 2024

In his letter, O’Connor said he received permission from the president and Cannard to confirm the neurologist’s identity and the nature of the visit.

“To protect patient privacy for the thousands of patients of the White House Medical Unit and the physicians who treat them, normally we do not disclose the names of specialists we work with,” he wrote.

Tom Tillison

Senior Staff Writer - [email protected]
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.

Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.

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