On Wednesday, freshman congressman from Texas insisted in a statement that the IG report, which was first reported by CNN, was the result “of successful political work because I supported President Trump”.
“I take my professional responsibility for prescribed medication practices; and I categorically reject any claim that I consumed alcohol while working,” added Jackson. “I also categorically deny any implication that I was in any way sexually inappropriate at work, out of work or anywhere with any member of my team or anyone else. This is not me and what is alleged has not happened.”
The most striking findings from the IG are related to allegations of unprofessional behavior, including sexually inappropriate comments about coworkers, according to the 37-page public report.
During a presidential trip to the Philippines, for example, “Jackson made sexual and disparaging statements about one of his medical subordinates to another of his subordinates. Specifically, he said his subordinate had ‘great t ** s’ and ‘a’ nice a ** ‘and he would like’ to see more of his tattoos’ “, the report alleges.
On the same trip, the report says he also failed in his duties as a White House doctor and Navy officer by getting drunk and acting inappropriately.
“His drunken behavior in the middle of the night, knocking on the hotel room door, shouting, shouting and generally noisy behavior in the hotel room exhibited less exemplary conduct in the workplace during an official trip to provide medical care to the president and other members of the travel group, “concluded the IG.
The investigation concluded that Jackson violated the policy of the White House Medical Office “by drinking a beer during a presidential trip to Bariloche, Argentina” and that he “took Ambien on an official trip, raising concerns about his potential inability to provide adequate medical care during this trip. “
But the investigation concluded that other claims about Jackson’s behavior could not be corroborated.
“We found no evidence to support the claim that RDML Jackson expected rum or other alcohol to be stored in his room during an official trip, or that team members feared retaliation if they did not live up to the expectation,” the document says. . He also found “no evidence to support the claim that RDML Jackson ‘got drunk and destroyed a government vehicle'”.
The IG did not make specific recommendations, and it was up to the Secretary of the Navy “to take appropriate measures”. And it is not clear whether his behavior while in uniform will lead to any punitive actions by the House of Representatives, where Jackson is on the Armed Forces Committee.
In his statement, Jackson said his detractors “have resurrected the same false claims of my years with the Obama administration because I refused to turn my back on President Trump.”