Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee are raising concerns about allegations involving Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, and are reviewing them to determine if they are substantial enough to upend his nomination.
Committee members have been told about allegations related to improper conduct in various stages of his career, two sources said. Accusations are emerging of excessive drinking, creating a hostile work environment and ‘improperly dispensing’ medication.
The sources say the committee is in talks to delay Wednesday’s confirmation hearing as they try to figure out the allegations. “We’re going to vet him. The Trump administration doesn’t do a particularly good job,” said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), a committee member. “That’s all I’m going to say.”
None of the senators would publicly detail the specifics of the allegations. A White House spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
It is hard to feel bad for this guy – he was willing to pursue a post for which he was clearly ill-placed to fill. After all, a good doctor does not make a good administrator, and the VA is the federal government’s second largest department after the Department of Defense. VA employs nearly 280,000 people at hundreds of VA medical facilities, clinics, and benefits offices and is responsible for administering benefits programs for Veterans, their families and survivors. Any sane person would realize the move to head up the VA would bring his conduct under scrutiny.
Veterans groups have mostly declined to give Jackson ringing endorsements, too.
The White House is sticking by him. Because… well, I guess because he talked great about Trump’s body.