The White House has declined to provide an explanation for a Parkinson’s expert’s recent visits to President Joe Biden’s executive residence, citing “security reasons,” despite the visits being documented in public visitor logs.
Reports surfaced on Sunday indicating that Dr. Kevin Cannard, a prominent neurologist specializing in Parkinson’s disease, had visited the White House, as confirmed by publicly available visit logs.
Additional reports on Monday revealed that Dr. Cannard had made eight visits to Biden’s residence over the past eight months.
When questioned about these reports, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Monday night refused to confirm the visits or disclose the doctor’s name, citing security concerns. She also suggested that such inquiries bordered on “personal attacks.”
“There are thousands of military personnel who come onto this White House, many of them get the care from the White House Medical Unit. And so we need to be super careful,” Jean-Pierre emphasized.
“The medical unit hosts a wide range of specialists, from dermatologists to neurologists, and so I cannot speak to every person because there are actually security reasons to protect their privacy.”
Dr. Cannard’s visits included a January meeting with presidential physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor, which gained attention following Biden’s debated performance on June 27, characterized by confusion and nonsensical remarks.
While Biden underwent a physical examination in February, the White House confirmed at the time that he did not have Parkinson’s disease.
Jean-Pierre acknowledged during the briefing that Biden had consulted with a neurologist three times during his presidency, coinciding with his annual physical exams, but she refrained from dismissing the possibility that Dr. Cannard’s visits were related to Biden’s health.
“It’s in the White House visitor logs. It’s public! I looked it up before I came out here. It is right there for anyone to see,” noted Ed O’Keefe of CBS News.
“I cannot from here confirm any of that because we have to keep their privacy. I think they would appreciate that too,” Jean-Pierre maintained.
“Is it the patient or the doctor?” O’Keefe pressed.
“We have to keep their privacy,” Jean-Pierre reiterated, declining to provide further details.
NBC News correspondent Kelly O’Donnell underscored that reporters were seeking clarity for the American public and pointed out that Biden could opt to release his medical records by waiving federal protections.
“One part of the reason we are pressing here is that we are not clear, on what has happened,” O’Donnell stated. “And therefore, the American people to whom we report don’t have a sense. So that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Jean-Pierre defended Biden’s cognitive fitness, asserting that he did not require a cognitive test based on assessments from both his doctor and neurologist.
Biden’s cognitive abilities and readiness for the 2024 election have been scrutinized following his debate performance, where he struggled with articulation and coherence.
