The Washington Examiner reports:
The White House will submit a request to the Senate this week to swiftly reschedule a confirmation hearing for Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, President Trump’s embattled pick to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“We’ll be making a request to [Senate Veterans Affairs Committee] Chairman Isakson,” legislative affairs director Marc Short told reporters Wednesday. “We think he deserves his chance to have a fair hearing.”
Jackson, who was originally scheduled to appear before the Senate panel on Wednesday, is currently being investigated by Isakson and ranking member Jon Tester, D-Mt., for allegations that he improperly distributed prescription drugs and was intoxicated during work hours.
CNN reports:
During an overseas trip in 2015, Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, the White House physician, was intoxicated and banged on the hotel room door of a female employee, according to four sources familiar with the allegation.
The incident became so noisy, one source familiar with the allegation told CNN, that the Secret Service stopped him out of concern that he would wake then-President Barack Obama.
Two sources who previously worked in the White House Medical Unit described the same incident, with one former staffer telling CNN that it was “definitely inappropriate, in the middle of the night,” and that it made the woman uncomfortable.
At the time, the incident was reported up the chain of command, and it is one of multiple drunken episodes involving Jackson on overseas trips, according to a source familiar.
Townhall says this is all Obama’s fault:
President Obama signed off on Jackson’s fitness for duty reports year after year during his time in the Oval Office. Further he suggested he be promoted early.
“Ronny does a great job – genuine enthusiasm, poised under pressure, incredible work ethic and follow through. Ronny continues to inspire confidence with the care he provides to me, my family and my team. Continue to promote ahead of peers,” Obama wrote in 2016.
“ABSOLUTELY THE BEST! PROMOTE TO FLAG IMMEDIATELY,” Obama wrote in 2015. “Ronny’s positive impact cannot be overstated. He is a tremendous asset to the entire White House team. Already at a level of performance and responsibility that exceeds his current rank, promote to Rear Admiral now.”