In a stunning revelation, Donald Trump’s personal physician, Dr. Harold Bornstein, described a White House orchestrated “raid” on his office in February 2017. This incident involved a top White House aide, who also served as Trump’s long-time bodyguard, accompanied by the Trump Organization’s chief lawyer and another individual. Their mission: to seize all of President Trump’s medical records without prior notice.
Dr. Bornstein, the “Trump Doctor” at the center of this controversy, disclosed in an exclusive interview with NBC News that the event left him feeling “raped, frightened and sad.” The incident occurred merely two days after Dr. Bornstein publicly confirmed prescribing hair growth medication to President Trump for years.
On the morning of February 3, 2017, Keith Schiller, then Director of Oval Office Operations and previously Trump’s bodyguard, along with another “large man,” arrived at Dr. Bornstein’s Park Avenue office. Dr. Bornstein recounted the experience as a “raid,” emphasizing the unsettling nature of their sudden appearance and demand for the records.
“They must have been here for 25 or 30 minutes. It created a lot of chaos,” Dr. Bornstein stated, highlighting the disruptive and intimidating atmosphere created by the White House representatives. Adding to the surreal nature of the encounter, Dr. Bornstein mentioned that the men requested him to remove a framed photograph of himself and Trump that was displayed in his waiting room. The photo now sits face down under a pile of papers in his office.
Donald Trump and his physician Harold Bornstein in a photo that once adorned his office wall, before Bornstein was asked to remove it.
HIPAA Violation Concerns in Trump Doctor Records Seizure
Adding a layer of legal complexity, Dr. Bornstein asserted that he was not presented with a HIPAA release form, a standard legal document requiring presidential authorization for medical record transfer. This raises significant questions regarding patient privacy law violations. While a source familiar with the situation mentioned a letter from then-White House physician Dr. Ronny Jackson, it remains unclear if a proper HIPAA release was ever provided.
NBC News medical correspondent Dr. John Torres commented on the situation, stating, “If Ronny Jackson was the treating doctor, and he was asking for his patient’s paperwork, a doctor is obligated to give it to him to ensure continuity of care, but it has to be given in a secure fashion. Nobody who doesn’t have HIPAA clearance can see the patient records.”
Legal analyst Danny Cevallos further elaborated on the legal implications. He pointed out that while patients own their medical information, the physical records are the property of the healthcare provider. “New York state law requires that a doctor maintain records for at least six years, so a doctor who hands over his original records runs the risk of violating New York state law,” Cevallos explained, emphasizing the potential legal ramifications for Dr. Bornstein.
Dr. Bornstein confirmed that the original and sole copies of President Trump’s medical charts were taken, including lab reports filed under both Trump’s name and pseudonyms used by his office for the then-president. Alan Garten, chief legal officer for the Trump Organization, was also present during the record retrieval.
White House Claims “Standard Procedure” for Trump’s Medical Records
A spokesperson for Mr. Garten offered a contrasting account, stating that Dr. Bornstein “voluntarily turned over the medical records to Mr. Schiller” at the White House’s request. The spokesperson described the handover as “peaceful, cooperative and cordial,” asserting that Dr. Bornstein was informed of the reasons for the request and willingly complied. Keith Schiller, who departed the White House in September 2017, did not respond to requests for comments.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders addressed the incident in response to inquiries from NBC News’ Hallie Jackson. Sanders dismissed the characterization of a “raid,” stating that obtaining medical records was “standard operating procedure for a new president.” She clarified, “Those records were being transferred over to the White House Medical Unit, as requested.”
Fallout from Hair Growth Drug Disclosure by Trump Doctor
Dr. Bornstein believes that his disclosure to The New York Times about President Trump using Propecia, a drug for enlarged prostates also known for stimulating hair growth, led to the deterioration of their relationship. He also mentioned prescribing medications for rosacea and high cholesterol for Trump.
Further complicating their relationship, Dr. Bornstein recalled telling Rhona Graff, Trump’s long-time assistant, about his interest in becoming the White House physician. Following the publication of the article detailing Trump’s Propecia use on February 1, 2017, Dr. Bornstein said Ms. Graff contacted him, stating, “So you wanted to be the White House doctor? Forget it, you’re out.” The incident at his office occurred two days after this article was published.
Dr. Bornstein expressed disbelief at the significance placed on the hair growth drug disclosure, questioning, “I couldn’t believe anybody was making a big deal out of a drug to grow his hair that seemed to be so important. And it certainly was not a breach of medical trust to tell somebody they take Propecia to grow their hair. What’s the matter with that?”
Trump Doctor Speaks Out Amidst Scrutiny of White House Medical Practices
Dr. Bornstein stated his decision to speak out now was influenced by reports concerning Dr. Ronny Jackson, the former White House physician who faced allegations of improper prescription practices. Dr. Jackson, once considered for the Department of Veterans Affairs, will not be returning to his White House post. “This is like a celebration for me,” Dr. Bornstein remarked, seemingly referencing the departure of Dr. Jackson. Dr. Jackson has denied any allegations of improper drug prescriptions.
Dr. Bornstein, aged 70, served as President Trump’s personal physician for over 35 years. During Trump’s presidential campaign, Dr. Bornstein famously declared in a letter that Trump’s health was “astonishingly excellent” and that he would be the “healthiest president in history.” This letter, released by the Trump campaign in December 2015, played a significant role in shaping public perception of Trump’s health.
However, in his recent NBC News interview, Dr. Bornstein revealed a different account regarding the letter’s authorship, stating, “He wrote it himself,” referring to Donald Trump. This contradicts his earlier statement in 2016, where he claimed to have written the letter while a Trump campaign limo waited outside his office. Dr. Bornstein now suggests he “picked up his kind of language and then just interpreted it to my own.” Regarding the hyperbolic claim of Trump being the “healthiest president ever,” Dr. Bornstein now describes it as “black humor,” stating, “It wasn’t meant to be a serious comment. I guess people don’t have that sense of humor but I get that sense of humor.”
