Jackson's Doctor Denies He's Subject of Death Probe
Arnold Klein, Michael Jackson's dermatologist, says he is cooperating with cops.
JULY 16, 2009— -- Dr. Arnold Klein, Michael Jackson's longtime dermatologist, is "not the subject of the Michael Jackson death investigation" and he is willingly cooperating with authorities, his spokesman said in a statement.
Law enforcement sources confirmed to ABC News that a small group of doctors who treated Jackson before his death are being questioned as to their involvement with Jackson's alleged drug use. Klein, and Dr. Conrad Murray, who was with Jackson at the time of his death, are both assumed to be on that shortlist.
"Dr. Klein should not be cast with the lot of other physicians who may or may not have had anything to with any investigation into the death of Mr. Jackson," read the statement.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Klein turned medical records over to the Los Angeles County Coroner, following their "informal request" and not because he was "served with an additional subpoena" [Tuesday], according to the statement.
That assessment contradicts comments made by Chief Coroner Investigator Ed Harvey, who told ABC News on Tuesday that Klein had been subpoenaed and that under California law the coroner has a right to issue demands for records to determine the manner and cause of death in cases under their jurisdiction.
On Tuesday, Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter was seen leaving Klein's office and confirmed to reporters that the doctor was among several physicians who authorities were questioning. He would not name the other doctors.
"We are not investigating the doctors -- we are investigating the death of Michael Jackson and we are contacting all of his doctors," he told reporters outside Klein's office.
Klein spokesman Jerry Digney denied reports that Klein had not willingly turned over records or cooperated with police.
"As with earlier submission of Michael Jackson records, Dr. Klein immediately produced the requested information. The reports in the media claiming that Dr. Klein is allegedly not cooperating in the investigation surrounding Michael Jackson's death are untrue," Digney said in the statement.
Jackson was a patient of Klein for two decades and the doctor's name has reportedly surfaced on a shortlist of five personal physicians authorities have sought to question.
Jackson and Klein's relationship extended outside the walls of the exam room. The two men were friends and it was in Klein's office that Jackson met Debbie Rowe, the nurse with whom the singer had two children in the late 1990s.
Klein has been rumored to have donated the sperm with which Rowe became pregnant, an accusation the doctor has denied -- with reservations.
On July 8, he told "Good Morning America" that he was not the father of Jackson's two oldest children, Prince, 12, and Paris, 11, as he far as he knew.