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Ronny Jackson, Trump’s V.A. Nominee, Faces Claims of Overprescription and Hostile Work Environment Trump Hints That Ronny Jackson Might Withdraw V.A. Nomination Amid Criticism
(about 2 hours later)
WASHINGTON — The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee is examining allegations that President Trump’s nominee to lead the Veterans Affairs Department oversaw a hostile work environment as the White House physician and allowed the overprescribing of drugs, according to congressional officials briefed on the committee’s work. WASHINGTON — President Trump acknowledged Tuesday that Ronny L. Jackson, his nominee to lead the Veterans Affairs Department, is in serious trouble amid allegations that he oversaw a hostile work environment as the White House doctor, allowed the overprescribing of drugs and possibly drank on the job.
They have also received claims that Dr. Ronny L. Jackson drank too much on the job. Speaking at a news conference with the president of France, Mr. Trump strongly defended Dr. Jackson as “one of the finest people that I have met,” but he hinted that Dr. Jackson might soon withdraw from consideration, blaming Democrats for mounting an unfair attack on his nominee’s record.
The allegations, which have been under investigation since last week, forced the postponement of Dr. Jackson’s confirmation hearing, planned for this Wednesday as senators scrutinize the nominee’s time leading the White House medical staff. Officials familiar with the allegations against Dr. Jackson declined to offer precise details but said that they suggest a pattern of behavior, not just one or two isolated incidents. “I don’t want to put a man through a process like this,” Mr. Trump said, calling the allegations about Mr. Jackson “ugly.” The president said, “The fact is, I wouldn’t do it. What does he need it for? To be abused by a number of politicians?”
The committee did not announce a new date for the hearing. “It’s totally his decision,” Mr. Trump added, saying that he had talked with Dr. Jackson earlier in the day. Mr. Trump angrily accused his adversaries on Capitol Hill of going after Dr. Jackson because they have failed to block Mike Pompeo, the president’s nominee to become the next secretary of state.
“They failed to stop him, so now they say ‘who’s next?’” the president told reporters during the news conference in the East Room.
The concern over Dr. Jackson’s nomination, however, is bipartisan. The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee launched its investigation last week, and the committee’s Republican and Democratic leaders jointly announced on Tuesday that Dr. Jackson’s confirmation hearing, planned for this Wednesday, would be postponed indefinitely. Officials familiar with the allegations against Dr. Jackson declined to offer precise details but said that they suggest a pattern of behavior, not just one or two isolated incidents.
“The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is postponing the hearing to consider the nominee to be secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in light of new information presented to the committee,” said Senators Johnny Isakson of Georgia, the committee chairman, and Jon Tester of Montana, its top Democrat, in a joint statement which did not detail the allegations.“The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is postponing the hearing to consider the nominee to be secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in light of new information presented to the committee,” said Senators Johnny Isakson of Georgia, the committee chairman, and Jon Tester of Montana, its top Democrat, in a joint statement which did not detail the allegations.
“We take very seriously our constitutional duty to thoroughly and carefully vet each nominee sent to the Senate for confirmation,” they added. “We will continue looking into these serious allegations and have requested additional information from the White House to enable the committee to conduct a full review.”“We take very seriously our constitutional duty to thoroughly and carefully vet each nominee sent to the Senate for confirmation,” they added. “We will continue looking into these serious allegations and have requested additional information from the White House to enable the committee to conduct a full review.”
In a letter to the president, both senators requested “any and all communication” between the Defense Department, the White House Military Office and the White House medical unit “regarding allegations or incidents” involving Dr. Jackson back to 2006.In a letter to the president, both senators requested “any and all communication” between the Defense Department, the White House Military Office and the White House medical unit “regarding allegations or incidents” involving Dr. Jackson back to 2006.
“I have very serious questions that need to be addressed, and they should be addressed right now, like today,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut and a member of the committee.“I have very serious questions that need to be addressed, and they should be addressed right now, like today,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut and a member of the committee.
Dr. Jackson, a rear admiral in the Navy who serves as the White House physician, was already expected to face difficult questioning during his testimony before the committee. Last month, Mr. Trump fired his first Veterans Affairs secretary, David Shulkin, an experienced hospital administrator and veteran of the V.A. medical system, and then chose Dr. Jackson largely out of personal affinity. Republicans were more circumspect but indicated the charges are serious. Senator Thom Tillis, Republican of North Carolina and a member of the committee, said he was still waiting to see if the accusations “have weight” before rendering a judgment. But, he added, “If the allegations were based in fact, it would be concerning.”
Dr. Jackson, a rear admiral in the Navy, was already expected to face difficult questioning during his testimony before the committee. Last month, Mr. Trump fired his first Veterans Affairs secretary, David J. Shulkin, an experienced hospital administrator and veteran of the V.A. medical system, and then chose Dr. Jackson largely out of personal affinity.
The White House did little or no vetting of his background before announcing his nomination on Twitter. Before serving as a White House physician, Dr. Jackson had deployed as an emergency medicine physician to Taqaddum, Iraq, during the Iraq war.The White House did little or no vetting of his background before announcing his nomination on Twitter. Before serving as a White House physician, Dr. Jackson had deployed as an emergency medicine physician to Taqaddum, Iraq, during the Iraq war.
The nominee, speaking with reporters on Capitol Hill before meeting with a Republican senator Tuesday afternoon, gave no indication that he would withdraw. He said that he was “disappointed” that his confirmation hearing had been postponed. But he did not deny or answer questions about the charges.
“I’m looking forward to getting it rescheduled and answering everybody’s questions,” he said.
The turmoil around his nomination all but ensures that the department, the federal government’s second largest, will remain without a permanent leader for at least several weeks at a moment when it was supposed to be adopting systematic changes to its electronic health records system and programs that allow veterans to seek care from private doctors at government expense.
The Senate received paperwork from the Trump administration formalizing Dr. Jackson’s nomination only last week.The Senate received paperwork from the Trump administration formalizing Dr. Jackson’s nomination only last week.
“It has been really careless, maybe even negligent about the vetting in a number of these nominations,” Mr. Blumenthal said.“It has been really careless, maybe even negligent about the vetting in a number of these nominations,” Mr. Blumenthal said.
Senators were keeping the details of their investigation under wraps but let it be known that the allegations are serious. Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Democrat of Hawaii and a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, said she had heard enough from colleagues to have “deep concerns” about the nomination. “This is concerning even for a very ethically challenging White House,” she said.Senators were keeping the details of their investigation under wraps but let it be known that the allegations are serious. Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Democrat of Hawaii and a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, said she had heard enough from colleagues to have “deep concerns” about the nomination. “This is concerning even for a very ethically challenging White House,” she said.
Asked if he still supported the nominee, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, offered only, “We’re going to wait and see what Senator Isakson and the administration recommend.”Asked if he still supported the nominee, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, offered only, “We’re going to wait and see what Senator Isakson and the administration recommend.”
Committee Democrats met briefly Monday evening to discuss how to proceed. Mr. Tester is leading the investigation. Mr. Tester met with Mr. Isakson Tuesday morning shortly before announcing the postponement. Committee Democrats met briefly Monday evening to discuss how to proceed. Mr. Tester is leading the investigation. Mr. Tester then met with Mr. Isakson Tuesday morning shortly before announcing the postponement.
The White House defended Dr. Jackson’s record in a statement, but did not address the nature of the claims against him.The White House defended Dr. Jackson’s record in a statement, but did not address the nature of the claims against him.
“Admiral Jackson has been on the front lines of deadly combat and saved the lives of many others in service to this country. He’s served as the physician to three presidents — Republican and Democrat — and been praised by them all,” said Hogan Gidley, a deputy White House press secretary. “Admiral Jackson’s record of strong, decisive leadership is exactly what’s needed at the V.A. to ensure our veterans receive the benefits they deserve.”“Admiral Jackson has been on the front lines of deadly combat and saved the lives of many others in service to this country. He’s served as the physician to three presidents — Republican and Democrat — and been praised by them all,” said Hogan Gidley, a deputy White House press secretary. “Admiral Jackson’s record of strong, decisive leadership is exactly what’s needed at the V.A. to ensure our veterans receive the benefits they deserve.”
Lawmakers were already preparing to press Dr. Jackson on his views on the role of private medical care for veterans, instead of the department’s government-run health care system. Senators planned to challenge his lack of management experience running a large organization. The department is the federal government’s second largest, employing more than 370,000 people and operating sprawling health and veterans benefits systems. Lawmakers were already preparing to press Dr. Jackson on his views on the role of private medical care for veterans, instead of the department’s government-run health care system. Senators planned to challenge his lack of management experience running a large organization. The department employs more than 370,000 people and operates sprawling health and veterans benefits systems.
Before his nomination, Dr. Jackson had garnered little public attention and his policy views were unknown. He took a rare turn in the spotlight in January, when he appeared on national television to announce the results of Mr. Trump’s first physical while in office. At the time, there was speculation over the president’s physical and mental health, and Dr. Jackson offered effusive compliments on both. Mr. Trump was pleased with the performance.Before his nomination, Dr. Jackson had garnered little public attention and his policy views were unknown. He took a rare turn in the spotlight in January, when he appeared on national television to announce the results of Mr. Trump’s first physical while in office. At the time, there was speculation over the president’s physical and mental health, and Dr. Jackson offered effusive compliments on both. Mr. Trump was pleased with the performance.
“I’ve found no reason whatsoever to think the president has any issues whatsoever with his thought processes,” Dr. Jackson said. At one point, he even quipped that given Mr. Trump’s genetics, he might live to 200 years old if he had a healthier diet.“I’ve found no reason whatsoever to think the president has any issues whatsoever with his thought processes,” Dr. Jackson said. At one point, he even quipped that given Mr. Trump’s genetics, he might live to 200 years old if he had a healthier diet.
Mr. Trump fired his first Veterans Affairs secretary amid deep ideological disagreements over privatization of care at the department and extended fallout from a scathing report by its inspector general about a trip that Mr. Shulkin had taken last year to Britain and Denmark. Mr. Shulkin, a politically moderate physician and former hospital executive, remained well liked on Capitol Hill and among veterans groups, who felt he was a pragmatic leader who understood the department intimately.Mr. Trump fired his first Veterans Affairs secretary amid deep ideological disagreements over privatization of care at the department and extended fallout from a scathing report by its inspector general about a trip that Mr. Shulkin had taken last year to Britain and Denmark. Mr. Shulkin, a politically moderate physician and former hospital executive, remained well liked on Capitol Hill and among veterans groups, who felt he was a pragmatic leader who understood the department intimately.