Biden's former doctor asks to delay testimony to House panel, citing patient privilege concerns

<p>-

• Biden's former doctor asks to delay testimony to House panel, citing patient privilege concerns</p>

<p>MATT BROWN and MICHELLE L. PRICEJuly 7, 2025 at 6:35 PM</p>

<p>Rep. Jamie Comer, R-Ky., looks on during a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing, Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) ()</p>

<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Joe Biden's physician has asked to delay his testimony before the House oversight committee this week, citing the need for an agreement that will respect doctor-patient confidentiality rules as part of the investigation into Biden's health in office.</p>

<p>Dr. Kevin O'Connor, who served as Biden's physician at the White House, requested a delay until the end of July or early August "to reach an accommodation that will protect the very substantial privilege and confidentiality interests of Dr. O'Connor and former President Biden," according to a letter from his lawyer sent to Rep. James Comer of Kentucky on Saturday. The obtained a copy of the letter.</p>

<p>A spokesperson for Oversight Republicans said the committee will follow the House's deposition guidelines, which allow for witnesses to assert privilege on a question-by-question basis, with the committee chair ruling on each claim. But O'Connor is not allowed, in the committee's view, to delay or decline a congressional subpoena due to concerns over questions about potentially privileged information.</p>

<p>The back-and-forth is part of a broader struggle over the scope of the House Republican inquiry into Biden's age and mental fitness, with serious implications for both politics and policy. Republicans have also claimed that some policies carried out by the White House "autopen" may be invalid if it is proven that Biden was mentally incapacitated for some part of his term.</p>

<p>Biden has strongly denied claims that he was not in a right state of mind at any point while in office, calling the claims "ridiculous and false."</p>

<p>The House Oversight Committee first requested O'Connor testify before the committee last July, but the Biden White House blocked his testimony. Comer renewed his request in May and later subpoenaed the doctor in June.</p>

<p>David Schertler, the attorney for O'Connor, in the letter said the committee is refusing to "accommodate to any degree Dr. O'Connor's objections" over protecting privilege. He said the committee's decision was "unprecedented" and "alarming" and warned that it threatened broader principles around medical privacy.</p>

<p>Scherlter said O'Connor could face "serious consequences" for violating his obligations as a doctor, including losing his medical license.</p>

<p>In a June subpoena of O'Connor, Comer said that claims of physician-patient privilege under the American Medical Association's code of ethics "lack merit" because that code is not part of federal law. He said the committee's subpoena meets the AMA's own requirement that physicians must share a patient's medical information if "legally compelled to disclose the information" or "ordered to do so by legally constituted authority."</p>

<p>Comer has promised that the committee will make all its findings public in a report after the inquiry has finished. He has subpoenaed O'Connor and Anthony Bernal, former chief of staff to former first lady Jill Biden. The committee last month heard voluntary testimony from Neera Tanden, former director of Biden's domestic policy counsel.</p>

<p>The committee has also requested the testimony of nearly a dozen former senior Biden aides, including former White House chiefs of staff Ron Klain and Jeff Zients; former senior advisers Mike Donilon and Anita Dunn; former deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed, former counselor to the president Steve Ricchetti, former deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini and a former assistant to the president, Ashley Williams.</p>

<p>The Trump White House has waived executive privilege, a principle that protects many communications between the president and staff from Congress and the courts, for almost 10 senior former Biden staffers. That move clears the way for those staffers to discuss their conversations with Biden while he was president.</p>

<p>While the privilege can apply to former staffers, the decision of whether to waive it is decided by the sitting administration.</p>

<a href="https://ift.tt/EYDs9p4" class="dirlink-1">Orign Aricle on Source</a>

---

Source: AOL Politics

Читать на сайте

---

Source: AsherMag

Read More >> Full Article on Source: Astro Blog

#LALifestyle #USCelebrities

byAdministrator

in

July 07, 2025

Biden's former doctor asks to delay testimony to House panel, citing patient privilege concerns

<p>- Biden's former doctor asks to delay testimony to House panel, citing patient privilege concerns</p> ...

Read More

DOJ memo dismissing Epstein conspiracy theories sparks anger from conservatives

<p>-

• DOJ memo dismissing Epstein conspiracy theories sparks anger from conservatives</p>

<p>Kevin CollierJuly 7, 2025 at 6:40 PM</p>

<p>Attorney General Pam Bondi, in Washington on June 25. (Tom Williams / Getty Images file)</p>

<p>Conservative internet and media personalities are criticizing Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Trump administration after a recent government memo appeared to contradict statements Bondi made about the case of convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein.</p>

<p>The two-page memo, published by the FBI and Justice Department after an "exhaustive review" of materials related to Epstein, concluded that there is no evidence of an "incriminating 'client list'," or evidence that would lead to additional prosecution of third parties. The memo also concluded that Epstein died by suicide in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019 and that no evidence was found to suggest that he had participated in blackmail.</p>

<p>The findings closely mirror what NBC News and many other outlets have reported and published for years — that while Epstein sexually abused underage girls, he did not keep a secret list of powerful pedophile clients he was blackmailing.</p>

<p>The unsigned memo, first reported by Axios on Sunday, has enraged many prominent conservatives online who have often been supportive of the Trump administration, leading some to allege that Trump's Department of Justice has taken part in a larger conspiracy to cover up aspects of the Epstein affair, which conspiracy theorists say implicates powerful and famous people, particularly Democrats.Elon Musk, who has recently feuded with Trump and his administration after leaving his post at the White House, led the charge criticizing the Trump administration over the memo, posting eight times on Sunday and Monday and reposting a post from a user saying: "If the entire government is protecting pedophiles, it has officially become the government against the people."In particular, conservatives have expressed anger that Trump and other administration members promised tangible disclosures about Epstein if Trump were elected.On Monday morning, Musk responded "anytime now" to a video posted in 2024 showing Trump saying he'd have "no problem" looking into an Epstein client list.</p>

<p>Others have zeroed in on statements made by Bondi.</p>

<p>In February, Bondi indicated to Fox News host John Roberts that included in files related to law enforcement's investigations into Epstein — information which in reality was already largely public — was a list of Epstein clients.</p>

<p>"It's sitting on my desk right now to review," Bondi said, responding to a question about a potential client list, adding that she had "not yet" seen any bombshells.</p>

<p>In the wake of the memo, conservative critics are pointing to the segment as an indication of a cover-up."Sorry but this is unacceptable," said online activist Robby Starbuck, best known for his successful anti-DEI pressure campaigns targeting major corporations."Was she lying then or is she lying now? We deserve answers," Starbuck posted alongside the video.</p>

<p>On his YouTube show, during a segment on the topic that lasted over 90 minutes, conservative pundit Benny Johnson declared that "the federal government [is] officially confirming the cover-up is complete with Jeffrey Epstein."</p>

<p>Mike Benz, who worked in the State Department in Trump's first administration, said on the "Real America's Voice" talk show that while he trusted the senior Trump officials who released the memo, he nevertheless believed there was a vast deep state conspiracy</p>

<p>"I think you have a global network here that spans the Central Intelligence Agency in the U.S., that spans British intelligence, Israeli intelligence, Saudi intelligence," he claimed, without evidence. Conservative commentator Rogan O'Handley, who goes by DC_Draino online and participated in a Trump administration photo op in February holding binders labeled "The Epstein Files," on Monday called the memo part of a "shameful chapter" in the country's history. "Assuming this leaked Epstein Files memo is true, then we all know this is a shameful cover-up to protect the most heinous elites. We were told multiple times the files would be released, and now it looks like backroom deals have been made to keep them hidden," he wrote in a post.</p>

<p>White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the memo on Monday, saying at a news briefing that the Justice Department and FBI had "committed to an exhaustive investigation. That's what they did, and they provided the results of that," she said.</p>

<p>Asked for a message for Trump supporters who expected more people to be held accountable for Epstein's alleged crimes, she said that "this administration wants anyone who has ever committed a crime to be held accountable."</p>

<p>One former proponent of the Epstein conspiracy theory who has been silent is Dan Bongino, now the deputy director of the FBI. Before taking that job, Bongino boosted claims on his podcast that Epstein was a career blackmailer.</p>

<p>In a Jan. 4, 2024, episode, Bongino played a clip of a journalist saying that she was "100%" convinced that Epstein was killed "because he made his whole living blackmailing people."</p>

<p>Bongino told his listeners that he'd heard the same claims from another reporter and that they were "super important." The FBI declined to comment about Bongino's former claims.</p>

<p>The memo also acknowledged the challenges in releasing further material because so much of it could be harmful to Epstein's accusers.</p>

<p>"Epstein harmed over one thousand victims," the memo said. "Each suffered unique trauma. Sensitive information relating to these victims is intertwined throughout the materials. This includes specific details such as victim names and likenesses, physical descriptions, places of birth, associates, and employment history."</p>

<p>The FBI and Justice Department also released two versions of a nearly 11-hour video of the outside of a prison cell door, purportedly as evidence that no one else was involved when Epstein killed himself.</p>

<p>But that has done little to quell conspiracy claims. In both versions, timestamps on the videos jump from 11:58 p.m. to midnight, which has already inspired posts on X with tens of thousands of views claiming a government conspiracy to hide incriminating footage.</p>

<p>The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment on the missing minute.</p>

<a href="https://ift.tt/EYDs9p4" class="dirlink-1">Orign Aricle on Source</a>

---

Source: AOL Politics

Читать на сайте

---

Source: AsherMag

Read More >> Full Article on Source: Astro Blog

#LALifestyle #USCelebrities

byAdministrator

in

July 07, 2025

DOJ memo dismissing Epstein conspiracy theories sparks anger from conservatives

<p>- DOJ memo dismissing Epstein conspiracy theories sparks anger from conservatives</p> <p>Kevin ...

Read More

Judge blocks Trump administration from cutting off Planned Parenthood funding

<p>-

• Judge blocks Trump administration from cutting off Planned Parenthood funding</p>

<p>Joe WalshJuly 7, 2025 at 7:25 PM</p>

<p>A judge on Monday barred the Trump administration from revoking Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood, partially freezing a provision of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act just days after President Trump signed it into law.</p>

<p>The temporary restraining order by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani lasts 14 days and directs the Department of Health and Human Services to "take all steps necessary to ensure that Medicaid funding continues to be disbursed" to Planned Parenthood. The ruling, which came after a lawsuit from Planned Parenthood, doesn't apply to any other health care providers.</p>

<p>The lawsuit takes aim at a portion of Mr. Trump's signature domestic policy bill that would cut off any federal Medicaid funding to groups "primarily engaged in family planning services, reproductive health, and related medical care" that provide abortions.</p>

<p>The provision doesn't directly mention Planned Parenthood by name, but the group argues it's a "naked attempt to leverage the government's spending power to attack and penalize Planned Parenthood and impermissibly single it out for unfavorable treatment."</p>

<p>Federal Medicaid dollars already cannot be used to cover abortions except in cases of rape, incest or risk to a mother's life. But Planned Parenthood argues this new provision would make it harder for patients to access the non-abortion services offered by the group's local members, like screenings for cancer and sexually transmitted infections.</p>

<p>Planned Parenthood also said more than half of its patients use Medicaid, so a funding cutoff would have "devastating effects" on the group and its local affiliates, forcing some local health centers to close.</p>

<p>"Many Planned Parenthood Members will be required to lay off staff and curtail services, with serious adverse consequences for the many patients served at those centers even if they do not use Medicaid to access services. Worse still, Members may be forced to shutter a substantial number of their health centers nationwide, many of which are in rural or underserved areas without alternative providers," the lawsuit read.</p>

<p>Planned Parenthood — and its Massachusetts and Utah affiliates, which joined the lawsuit — said in a statement they were "grateful that the court acted swiftly to block this unconstitutional law attacking Planned Parenthood providers and patients."</p>

<p>In response to the ruling, a White House official said, "The Trump Administration is ending the forced use of Federal taxpayer dollars to fund or promote elective abortion – a commonsense position that the overwhelming majority of Americans agree with."</p>

<p>Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, which opposes abortion, criticized the lawsuit and argued Mr. Trump's domestic policy bill cut off funding to the "abortion industry."</p>

<p>"Planned Parenthood's desperation is showing as they run to the courts again to fix a crisis of their own making," the group's director of legal affairs and policy counsel, Katie Daniel, said in a statement Monday.</p>

<p>Separately, the Supreme Court ruled last month that South Carolina can block Planned Parenthood from participating in the state's Medicaid program, finding Planned Parenthood could not sue the state under a civil rights law.</p>

<p>Death toll rises as desperate search for Texas flash flood survivors continues</p>

<p>Sabrina Carpenter on the biggest misperceptions about her</p>

<p>How Lady Liberty became a beacon for immigrants</p>

<a href="https://ift.tt/EYDs9p4" class="dirlink-1">Orign Aricle on Source</a>

---

Source: AOL Politics

Читать на сайте

---

Source: AsherMag

Read More >> Full Article on Source: Astro Blog

#LALifestyle #USCelebrities

byAdministrator

in

July 07, 2025

Judge blocks Trump administration from cutting off Planned Parenthood funding

<p>- Judge blocks Trump administration from cutting off Planned Parenthood funding</p> <p>Joe Wals...

Read More

U.S. to revoke protected status for immigrants from Honduras and Nicaragua

<p>-

• U.S. to revoke protected status for immigrants from Honduras and Nicaragua</p>

<p>Camilo Montoya-GalvezJuly 7, 2025 at 11:55 AM</p>

<p>ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images</p>

<p>The Trump administration said Monday it will soon revoke the legal immigration status of more than 70,000 immigrants from Honduras and Nicaragua, its latest effort to curtail humanitarian programs that allow foreigners to stay in the U.S. temporarily.</p>

<p>The Department of Homeland Security said it would terminate the longstanding Temporary Protected Status programs for Honduras and Nicaragua in early September, paving the way for those enrolled in the initiative to be at risk of deportation unless they have other legal means to remain in the U.S.</p>

<p>Roughly 72,000 Hondurans and 4,000 Nicaraguans — many of whom arrived in the 1990s — have work permits and deportation protections under the TPS policy, according to the official termination notices published by DHS on Monday.</p>

<p>Since it was established by Congress in 1990, the U.S. government has used TPS to give certain foreigners a temporary safe haven, if returning to their home countries is deemed too dangerous due to armed conflict, environmental disasters or other crises.</p>

<p>The Biden administration greatly expanded TPS, offering hundreds of thousands of immigrants, mainly from Haiti and Venezuela, the opportunity to apply for the program. But President Trump, who ran on mass deportation and hardline immigration policies, has sought to severely limit TPS, as his administration works towards what the president has promised will be the largest deportation campaign in U.S. history.</p>

<p>The administration has now moved to dismantle TPS programs for hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua and Venezuela, dramatically expanding the pool of those eligible to be arrested and deported by federal immigration authorities.</p>

<p>While the administration's efforts have faced legal challenges, the Supreme Court this spring let officials revoke the TPS protections of hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan migrants.</p>

<p>The TPS policies for Honduras and Nicaragua were first created in 1999, after Hurricane Mitch devastated parts of Central America, causing catastrophic floods and killing thousands.</p>

<p>In the official termination notices, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said TPS for both Honduras and Nicaragua was no longer warranted, arguing that conditions in the two countries had improved significantly and that they could receive their nationals.</p>

<p>"Temporary Protected Status, as the name itself makes clear, is an inherently temporary status," both termination notices said.</p>

<p>Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada said the termination of TPS for Honduras and Nicaraguans would separate families and hurt U.S. businesses.</p>

<p>"These families have been here since the 1990s, working hard and contributing to our state and country for decades," Cortez Masto said. "Sending innocent families back into danger won't secure our border or make America safer."</p>

<p>Death toll rises as desperate search for Texas flash flood survivors continues</p>

<p>Sabrina Carpenter on the biggest misperceptions about her</p>

<p>How Lady Liberty became a beacon for immigrants</p>

<a href="https://ift.tt/EYDs9p4" class="dirlink-1">Orign Aricle on Source</a>

---

Source: AOL Politics

Читать на сайте

---

Source: AsherMag

Read More >> Full Article on Source: Astro Blog

#LALifestyle #USCelebrities

byAdministrator

in

July 07, 2025

U.S. to revoke protected status for immigrants from Honduras and Nicaragua

<p>- U.S. to revoke protected status for immigrants from Honduras and Nicaragua</p> <p>Camilo Mont...

Read More

Pacers confirm Tyrese Haliburton will not play next season due to torn Achilles: 'We would not jeopardize that'

<p>-

• Pacers confirm Tyrese Haliburton will not play next season due to torn Achilles: 'We would not jeopardize that'</p>

<p>Chris CwikJuly 8, 2025 at 2:38 AM</p>

<p>Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton hit some miraculous, last-second shots to carry his team all the way to the NBA Finals. But any hopes of the Pacers winning a championship were dashed the instant Haliburton went down with a torn Achilles in Game 7.</p>

<p>Following that injury, the Pacers want Haliburton to take his time rehabbing. Team president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard confirmed Monday that Haliburton will miss the entire 2025-26 NBA season while dealing with the injury.</p>

<p>Pritchard said the Pacers did not want to "jeopardize" further injury with Haliburton.</p>

<p>#Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard confirmed Tyrese Haliburton is out for the 2025-26 season."I have no doubt that he will be back better than ever... He will not play next year though. We would not jeopardize that now." pic.twitter.com/OiSy327pgw</p>

<p>— WISH-TV News (@WISHNews8) July 7, 2025</p>

<p>The news shouldn't come as a surprise. Achilles injuries can take up to a full year to fully recover. While it's possible Haliburton could recover faster, the team will give him plenty of time to get right.</p>

<p>Other athletes have come back from Achilles injuries in less time. Kirk Cousins was able to return after 11 months to start for the Atlanta Falcons last season. He struggled upon returning, however, throwing an NFL-leading 16 interceptions in just 14 games.</p>

<p>The Pacers won't risk that outcome. Assuming the team sticks to its guns and keeps Haliburton out, he wouldn't return to action until the start of the 2026-27 NBA season. If he returned to the court then, it would mark a year and a half since he appeared in a regular-season game.</p>

<p>The Pacers have plenty of incentive to make sure Haliburton's recovery goes well. The team signed Haliburton to a five-year, max extension in 2023. That extension kicked in during the 2024-25 NBA season, meaning he's signed through the 2028-29 NBA season.</p>

<p>Given the length of Haliburton's deal and his age (25), the Pacers have every incentive to make sure he's back at 100 percent the next time he steps on the court.</p>

<p>The decision may hurt the Pacers next year, but the team is taking the cautious approach with its biggest star.</p>

<a href="https://ift.tt/EYDs9p4" class="dirlink-1">Orign Aricle on Source</a>

---

Source: AOL Sports

Читать на сайте

---

Source: AsherMag

Read More >> Full Article on Source: Astro Blog

#LALifestyle #USCelebrities

byAdministrator

in

July 07, 2025

Pacers confirm Tyrese Haliburton will not play next season due to torn Achilles: 'We would not jeopardize that'

<p>- Pacers confirm Tyrese Haliburton will not play next season due to torn Achilles: 'We would not jeopardize t...

Read More

Tour de France sprint favorite Jasper Philipsen out of race after crashing on stage three

<p>-

• Tour de France sprint favorite Jasper Philipsen out of race after crashing on stage three</p>

<p>Alicia Victoria LozanoJuly 8, 2025 at 3:43 AM</p>

<p>Jasper Philipsen during the 2nd stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Lauwin-Planque and Boulogne-sur-Mer, Northern France, on July 6. (Anne-Christine Poujoulat / AFP via Getty Images)</p>

<p>Sprinter Jasper Philipsen, of Alpecin-Deceuninck, crashed out of the Tour de France Monday just two days after taking the yellow jersey for the first time in his career.</p>

<p>The Belgian powerhouse slammed to the ground in the intermediate sprint with just under 37 miles remaining in stage three. Green jersey in tatters and back covered in angry red road burns, he struggled to stand and could be seen gingerly bending his right arm.</p>

<p>He was taken away on a stretcher and wearing a neck brace.</p>

<p>Soudal–Quick-Step's Tim Merlier eked out a photo finish against Italian sprinter Jonathan Milan of Lidl–Trek to win the stage.</p>

<p>According to a social media post by Alpecin-Deceuninck, a preliminary hospital diagnosis revealed a fractured collarbone and at least one broken rib. He will likely require surgery, the team said.</p>

<p>In an Instagram post shared after the race, Tour de France favorite Tadej Pogačar said he started the day happy but ended "super sad" to see Philipsen go down so hard.</p>

<p>"You will come back in no time," Pogačar said.</p>

<p>Philipsen's crash came on the heels of a near perfect start for Alpecin-Deceuninck. Philipsen took first place on opening day, winning both the yellow jersey and the stage. It was a dream come true for the sprinter, who had previously warned that stage one could be among the most dangerous racing days in this year's tour.</p>

<p>"Beyond proud to make this dream a reality," he posted on social media Saturday afternoon. "The team did an amazing job today, and taking the stage win while bringing the yellow home is the best feeling there is."</p>

<p>While Philipsen celebrated, crashes on day one forced two riders to abandon midrace.</p>

<p>Italian time trial champion Filippo Ganna of Ineos Grenadiers was the first to crash out. The 6-foot-4 Olympic gold medalist initially got back on his bike after falling heavily on a right-hand curve, but appeared to be visibly struggling and soon developed concussion symptoms, his team said.</p>

<p>Shortly after Ganna's incident, Stefan Bissegger of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale also crashed and abandoned with concussion symptoms.</p>

<p>Philipsen, with a strong lead out from teammate Mathieu van der Poel, blasted to victory in the last 100 meters and took first for his 10th Tour stage win.</p>

<p>On Sunday, it was Dutchman Van der Poel's turn to wear the yellow jersey after beating out defending champion Pogačar and two-time winner Jonas Vingegaard in a sprint to the finish line.</p>

<p>He was still in the yellow on Monday when Phillipsen hit the ground. Speaking to reporters are stage three, Van der Poel said he was sad to see his friend abandon under such painful circumstances.</p>

<p>"We had a pretty nice goal in winning the green jersey with him again," he said referring to the jersey awarded to the top sprinter. "It's not a happy day today."</p>

<p>With Philipsen out, Australian cyclist Kaden Groves, who is riding his Tour debut, will likely step in as team leader, Van der Poel said.</p>

<a href="https://ift.tt/EYDs9p4" class="dirlink-1">Orign Aricle on Source</a>

---

Source: AOL Sports

Читать на сайте

---

Source: AsherMag

Read More >> Full Article on Source: Astro Blog

#LALifestyle #USCelebrities

byAdministrator

in

July 07, 2025

Tour de France sprint favorite Jasper Philipsen out of race after crashing on stage three

<p>- Tour de France sprint favorite Jasper Philipsen out of race after crashing on stage three</p> <p...

Read More