WASHINGTON – Congressman Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, became involved in “misconduct” while serving as the White House’s chief physician, according to a report by the Pentagon inspector general obtained on Wednesday by NBC News.
The blunt report, due to be released on Wednesday, alleges abusive behavior against subordinates, including sexual harassment.
The inspector general’s analysis, first reported by CNN, says Jackson drank alcohol, made sexual comments to subordinates and took the Ambien sedative while working as a doctor at the White House. The watchdog also found that Jackson mistreated subordinates and “discredited, belittled, intimidated and humiliated them”.
Jackson denied the charges, saying the Democrats were “using this report to repeat and repeat false attacks on my integrity”.
“I am proud of the work environment that I promoted under three different presidents from both parties; I take my professional responsibility regarding prescription drug practices seriously; and I categorically reject any claim that I consumed alcohol while working,” he said in a statement. communicated. “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.”
Citing interviews with dozens of former employees, the Pentagon’s inspector general said Jackson had failed to treat his subordinates with dignity and respect. Witnesses described Jackson as shouting about trivial matters, exhibiting an explosive temper and focused on getting favors from the president.
In one incident, a subordinate told how a drunk Jackson knocked on her door during a 2014 trip to Manila, Philippines.
“We asked the subordinate what she was thinking when RDML Jackson knocked on her door in the middle of the night and said, ‘I need you,'” said the inspector general’s report. your room and they say, ‘I need you’, your mind goes to the worst. I really felt it was a sexually inappropriate comment. ‘”
The woman told investigators that a Navy officer in Jackson’s position “shouldn’t knock on my door drunk in the middle of the night telling me that he ‘needs me’, no matter what he needs me for,” the report said.
The report also found that Jackson, who served as a doctor in the White House for Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama, “was involved in misconduct involving the use of alcohol during two incidents.” The incidents involved two presidential trips, to the Philippines in 2014 and to Argentina in March 2016.
Jackson also used Ambien during long trips abroad, the report said. This did not appear to violate the rules governing his position, but some witnesses told the inspector general that the use of the sedative raised questions about his ability to provide medical care to US government officials due to the drug’s side effects.
In his statement denying the accusations, Jackson said that the Inspector General’s report “resurrected the same false allegations of my years with the Obama administration because I refused to turn my back on President Trump. Democrats are using this report to repeat and redo attacks. false about my integrity, so I want to be clear. “
Jackson said his entire professional life was defined by duties and services, including his time in the Navy and working for three presidents (he was in the White House medical unit under the George W. Bush administration).
“I do 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 said.
During the Trump administration, Jackson was known for declaring that the president was in “excellent” health, despite his statement that Trump needed to lose weight because he was almost obese.
Trump appointed Jackson to be his veterans affairs secretary in 2018, but Jackson withdrew his nomination after accusations of drinking at work and prescribing excessive medications to patients.
