This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/apr/24/ronny-jackson-trump-veterans-affairs-delay

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Senate committee delays hearing for Trump VA nominee Ronny Jackson Ronny Jackson: hearing for VA nominee delayed amid 'serious allegations'
(about 2 hours later)
Senators have delayed the confirmation hearing for Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Ronny Jackson, over growing questions about the nominee’s ability to manage the government’s second-largest department. Senate leaders have delayed indefinitely the confirmation hearing for Donald Trump’s pick to be veterans affairs (VA) secretary, because of what they said were “serious allegations” made against the White House doctor and navy rear admiral.
The hearing for Jackson, Trump’s White House doctor and a navy rear admiral, was scheduled for Wednesday. Veterans affairs committee spokeswoman Amanda Maddox cited growing questions from lawmakers over Jackson’s qualifications. The hearing for Ronny Jackson had been set for Wednesday at the Senate veterans affairs committee. Allegations began surfacing late last week involving Jackson’s workplace practices, including claims of inappropriate behavior and over-prescribing prescription drugs, according to two aides granted anonymity to discuss the situation.
Trump, who on Tuesday was entertaining French president Emmanuel Macron at the White House, has already expressed frustration about delays in getting nominees through Congress. On Monday, Mike Pompeo, the nominee for secretary of state, narrowly cleared the Senate foreign relations committee.Trump, who on Tuesday was entertaining French president Emmanuel Macron at the White House, has already expressed frustration about delays in getting nominees through Congress. On Monday, Mike Pompeo, the nominee for secretary of state, narrowly cleared the Senate foreign relations committee.
“The Dems will not approve hundreds of good people,” the president wrote on Twitter, “including the Ambassador to Germany. They are maxing out the time on approval process for all, never happened before. Need more Republicans!”“The Dems will not approve hundreds of good people,” the president wrote on Twitter, “including the Ambassador to Germany. They are maxing out the time on approval process for all, never happened before. Need more Republicans!”
On Tuesday, White House spokesman Hogan Gidley issued a statement that praised Jackson’s character but did not discuss his qualifications. In a statement, Senate VA committee chairman Johnny Isakson, a Georgia Republican, and Jon Tester of Montana, the top Democrat on the panel, said: “We take very seriously our constitutional duty to thoroughly and carefully vet each nominee sent to the Senate for confirmation.
“Admiral Jackson has been on the front lines of deadly combat and saved the lives of many others in service to this country,” he said. “He’s served as the physician to three presidents, Republican and Democrat, and been praised by them all. “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.”
“Admiral Jackson’s record of strong, decisive leadership is exactly what’s needed at the VA to ensure our veterans receive the benefits they deserve.” Isakson told fellow GOP senators over the weekend about the allegations, prompting those on the panel to give their support for delaying the hearing, one senator said.
“Chairman Isakson had a phone conversation with a lot of us around the committee over the weekend, indicated that there had been some unsubstantiated allegations made, and he wants to do it right,” said Mike Rounds, a Republican from South Dakota, on Fox News.
“We told him that if he wanted to delay the meeting, that was fine with us. We most certainly want to get all the facts out,” he said.
Admiral Jackson’s record of strong, decisive leadership is exactly what’s needed at the VAAdmiral Jackson’s record of strong, decisive leadership is exactly what’s needed at the VA
Speaking before the delay was confirmed, Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat and member of the Senate VA committee, said: “Some Republican colleagues have told me that they think the hearing should be postponed, which certainly deserves consideration. I think there may well be a need for more time, in fairness to Admiral Jackson, so he and the administration have an opportunity to answer these questions fully and fairly.” Democrats on the committee assembled privately late on Monday. Tester reiterated to the other senators that the allegations were out there, one aide said. But no specific evidence of wrongdoing was offered.
Blumenthal declined to discuss why more time might be needed. White House and VA officials were quietly discussing a delay with key allies outside the administration, even as White House spokesman Hogan Gidley praised Jackson’s nomination on Tuesday.
Trump selected Jackson, whom he said was “highly respected”, to head the VA last month after firing former Obama administration official David Shulkin following an ethics scandal and rebellion within the agency. Shulkin protested and said it was a political move. “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,” he said.
“Admiral Jackson’s record of strong, decisive leadership is exactly what’s needed at the VA to ensure our veterans receive the benefits they deserve.”
Trump selected Jackson, who he said was “highly respected”, last month after firing former Obama administration official David Shulkin following an ethics scandal and rebellion within the agency. Shulkin protested and said it was a political move.
The president was impressed with Jackson’s performance at the White House podium in January, when the doctor appeared before the press to discuss the 71-year-old Trump’s physical and mental health. Trump told aides he liked Jackson’s smooth turn before the cameras and ability to field questions as he offered a glowing report on the president’s physical and mental wellbeing.The president was impressed with Jackson’s performance at the White House podium in January, when the doctor appeared before the press to discuss the 71-year-old Trump’s physical and mental health. Trump told aides he liked Jackson’s smooth turn before the cameras and ability to field questions as he offered a glowing report on the president’s physical and mental wellbeing.
Jackson spent nearly an hour exhausting reporters’ questions, extolling the president’s “incredible genes” and joking that if only Trump had eaten a healthier diet over the last 20 years, “he might live to be 200 years old”. Jackson spent nearly an hour exhausting reporters’ questions, extolling the president’s “incredible genes” and joking that if only Trump had eaten a healthier diet over the last 20 years “he might live to be 200 years old”.
Jackson has faced numerous questions from Republicans and Democrats as well as veterans groups about whether he has the experience to manage the massive department of 360,000 employees serving 9 million military veterans. Senator Mike Rounds, a South Dakota Republican and a veterans affairs committee member, said Jackson’s small staff at the White House would be an issue. Jackson has faced numerous questions from Republicans and Democrats as well as veterans groups about whether he has the experience to manage the massive department of 360,000 employees serving nine million military veterans. Senator Rounds said Jackson’s small staff at the White House would be an issue.
“We’ve got 360,000 people there,” he said of the VA. “Are they going to manage the secretary or is the secretary going to manage the VA? That’s a good question to ask, and he needs to answer it. He needs to be the leader. A lot of folks want to be led and managed.”“We’ve got 360,000 people there,” he said of the VA. “Are they going to manage the secretary or is the secretary going to manage the VA? That’s a good question to ask, and he needs to answer it. He needs to be the leader. A lot of folks want to be led and managed.”
Rounds said the committee still needed more paperwork from the White House. White House and VA officials also discussed a delay with key allies outside the administration. A spokeswoman for Johnny Isakson, a Georgia Republican and the Senate VA committee chairman, did not return requests for comment.
Trump administrationTrump administration
Donald TrumpDonald Trump
US militaryUS military
US politicsUS politics
RepublicansRepublicans
DemocratsDemocrats
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content