Jackson said the report was politically motivated in a statement to CNN on Tuesday, saying that the inspector general “resurrected” old charges against him because he refused to “turn his back on President (Donald) Trump”, who was a vocal advocate of his 2020 Congressional bidding. He also told CNN that he rejects “any claim that I consumed alcohol while at work”.
After interviewing 78 witnesses and reviewing a series of White House documents, investigators concluded that Jackson, who achieved the post of Rear Admiral, failed to treat his subordinates with dignity and respect, became involved in misconduct involving the use of alcohol during two incidents and consumed sleeping medication during a trip abroad that raised concerns about his ability to provide medical care to the president and other key officials, according to the report.
The report also notes that the investigation into Jackson “was limited in scope and unproductive” as the White House council under Trump insisted on being present at all interviews with current White House Medical Unit employees, which had a ” potential stoppage effect “in the investigation.
“We determined that the potential negative effect of their presence would prevent us from receiving accurate testimonies,” says the report, adding that fieldwork was interrupted for about 10 months, between October 11, 2018 and August 22, 2019, as the Department of Defense, the inspector general, and the White House council determined whether the White House would invoke executive privilege, which they did not.
Ambien and alcohol on trips with the president
Still, the conclusions about Jackson’s conduct are impressive. Claims about his explosive temper and the creation of a hostile work environment are consistent throughout his time in the Obama and Trump administrations as an “overwhelming majority of witnesses (56) … who worked with RDML Jackson from 2012 to 2018 told us who have personally experienced it, saw or heard him screaming, shouting, cursing or belittling subordinates, “says the report.
“Many of these witnesses described RDML Jackson’s behavior with words and phrases such as’ collapse ‘,’ screaming ‘for no reason,’ ‘fury’, ‘tantrums’,’ attacks’ and ‘aggressive’. These witnesses also described RDML Jackson’s leadership style with terms like ‘tyrant’, ‘dictator’, ‘control freak’, ‘marks of fear and intimidation’, ‘lousy manager’ and ‘no leader’ “, he adds.
On a presidential trip to Manila from April 22, 2014 to April 29, 2014, four witnesses who traveled with then President Barack Obama and Jackson said that Jackson got drunk and made inappropriate comments about a medical subordinate.
A witness interviewed by IG said that shortly after arriving in Manila, Jackson started drinking in the hotel lobby, then got into a car with a drink in his hand “to go out on the town”. Another witness said he could smell alcohol on Jackson’s breath later that night. Back at the hotel, one of the witnesses said he saw Jackson “knocking” on his subordinate’s bedroom door. When she opened the door, Jackson said, “I need you” and, “I need you to come to my room.”
Witnesses also claimed that Jackson made a comment about the breasts and buttocks of a medical subordinate during a presidential trip to Asia in April 2014. “Witness 1, a medical subordinate, told us that during the trip to Asia, before arriving at Manila, RDML Jackson told him a medical subordinate (Manila Witness 2), who was also on the trip, had ‘great t ** s’ and ‘how beautiful **,’ and that RDML Jackson also told Manila Witness 1 that he would ‘I would like to see more of your tattoos’, “says the report.
Two years later, in Bariloche, Argentina, two witnesses told IG that they saw Jackson drinking a beer while serving as the president’s doctor and in charge of providing medical care for a presidential trip, despite regulations that prohibited him 24 hours before the president’s arrival up to two hours after your departure. Jackson, the witnesses said, considered the regulation “ridiculous”. Another witness said that Jackson later smelled of alcohol, although she was not sure if he was drunk. A witness, identified in the report as “Bariloche Witness 5”, said he did not smell alcohol on Jackson during the trip.
These two allegations of alcohol use occurred during the Obama administration, but the report details a series of incidents under Obama and Trump in which Jackson lost his temper, cursing subordinates.
Of the 60 witnesses interviewed by the IG Department of Defense about the climate of command under Jackson, only 13 made positive comments, while 38 spoke of unprofessional behavior, intimidation and poor treatment of subordinates.
One witness said that Jackson “established a workplace where fear and intimidation were a kind of trademark for him, his command and control over his subordinates.”
At least six witnesses, all from the medical team, also told investigators that Jackson took Ambien, a prescription drug to treat insomnia, on long flights during the service to provide medical care for government officials, including the president. Witnesses said they were concerned about Ambien because it often leaves use drowsy and can impair someone’s mental alertness. But the IG report notes that there is no specific restriction on the use of Ambien during long flights. Recommends that the White House Military Office issue guidelines on the appropriate use of Ambien and similar drugs.
Jackson claims politically motivated report
Jackson retired from the Navy in 2019 while the surveillance investigation was still ongoing, but two defense officials told CNN that he may now face a Navy review of his retirement payment. Officers’ retirement pay is based on the highest position in which a person has served honorably. If the report’s findings validated less than honorable behavior, Jackson could have his retirement payment reduced.
The IG report recommends that the Secretary of the Navy take “appropriate action” in relation to Jackson.
“We recommend that the Director of WHMO issue the suitability for duty guidance on the appropriate use of Ambien and similar drugs while medical staff are on call or on call to provide emergency medical services,” the document says.
In his statement to CNN on Tuesday, Jackson said that “Democrats are using this report to repeat and redo false attacks on my integrity.”
“I am proud of the work environment that I have promoted under three different presidents on both sides; I take my professional responsibility regarding prescription drug practices seriously; and I categorically reject any claim that I consumed alcohol while working,” said Jackson. .
“My entire professional life was defined by duties and services. I served my country with honor in the United States Navy, I served patients who trusted me to take care of me, I served three presidents in the White House and now I serve the people of Texas” 13th District in Congress. I have not and will never have conducted myself in a way that undermines the sincerity with which I take my oath to my country or to my constituents “, he added.
CNN previously reported that the IG investigation revolved around allegations that Jackson was periodically intoxicated and mistreated prescription drugs.
Former Navy Secretary Richard Spencer approved Jackson’s retirement before his own expulsion in late 2019, a senior defense officer previously told CNN.