(RepublicanReport.org) – On January 9, the Associated Press reported that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III was recently admitted into the hospital for surgery to treat his prostate cancer. While his diagnosis was made about a month before his treatment, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the White House only learned about his cancer on the day of the AP report. Many lawmakers were upset about being kept in the dark.
On January 10, Representative Chris Deluzio (D-PA) took to social media, stating he “lost trust” in the defense secretary and was concerned about its possible impact on the “chain of command.” According to The Daily Wire, Deluzio, who is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, released a statement calling on Austin to resign. The lawmaker then thanked the defense secretary for his years of service and wished him a speedy recovery.
The sentiment wasn’t the first of its kind, with Representative Matt Rosendale (R-MT) filing articles of impeachment against Austin for allegedly “violat[ing] his oath of office.” Since the filing on January 9, it doesn’t appear the move has gotten any traction. Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY) also called for Austin to resign, calling it “absolutely unacceptable” that he didn’t immediately inform the president and others of his condition.
During a White House briefing following the defense secretary’s announcement, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the White House and the president have “complete confidence in the secretary.” The Office of the Secretary of Defense released a statement informing the public it will be reviewing the notification process and making recommendations for improvements going forward.
Austin released a statement on January 6 thanking the doctors and nurses at Walter Reed and committed to doing a better job at informing the public about important matters going forward. He took full responsibility for his “decisions about disclosure.”
Copyright 2024, RepublicanReport.org
