Austin Apologizes For Secret Hospitalization [VIDEO]

The Hill reports:

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin apologized Thursday for his secretive hospitalization in early January, admitting he “did not handle this right,” amid questions about his failure to notify administration officials of the hospital stay.

Austin appeared in the Pentagon press briefing room for the first time since his hospitalization and answered questions from reporters about the scandal.

“I want to be crystal clear: We did not handle this right. I did not handle this right. I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis,” Austin said. “I should have also told my team and the American public, and I take full responsibility. I apologize to my teammates and to the American people.”

Read the full article.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin: “We did not handle this right. And I did not handle this right. I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis. I should have also told my team and the American public, and I take full responsibility.” pic.twitter.com/eAABelmMsN

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 1, 2024

Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin says about his prostate cancer diagnosis: “Among the Black community, it’s even more a thing that people want to keep private.”

“It’s more about privacy than secrecy,” he says about his unannounced hospitalization last month. https://t.co/ApVLFmZoXG pic.twitter.com/ILOADnWm4r

— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 1, 2024

When asked whether he ever considered resigning due to the political controversy surrounding his secret hospitalization, Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin tells @LMartinezABC, “In terms of resignation, the answer’s no.” https://t.co/uMz0DP1leN pic.twitter.com/k1kZnzpYQJ

— ABC News (@ABC) February 1, 2024