VA nominee considers withdrawing as more misconduct allegations emerge
WASHINGTON — White House physician Ronny Jackson has grown frustrated with the nomination process to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs and has told colleagues he may remove his name from consideration, according to two White House officials with knowledge of his deliberations.
Jackson’s indecision was brewing even before Capitol Hill Democrats on Wednesday released new allegations of professional misconduct, including the claim that Jackson had wrecked a government vehicle after getting drunk at a Secret Service going away party.
The allegations were contained in a two-page document described by the Democratic staff of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee as a summary of interviews with 23 of Jackson’s current and former colleagues. The document also described Jackson’s “pattern” of handing out medication with no patient history, writing himself prescriptions and contributing to a hostile work environment with “a constant fear of reprisal.”
One White House official said Jackson is growing weary of a process that has been besieged from the start. Veteran advocates and many lawmakers have expressed concerns about the former combat physician’s lack of management experience, and some have worried that he would capitulate to President Donald Trump’s goal of outsourcing more veteran services.
On Wednesday, Jackson quickly denied crashing a vehicle.
The Democrats’ document provided no evidence for the allegations nor an explanation of the methodology of the investigation.
The White House did not immediately comment on the latest allegations, but earlier Wednesday officials had intensified their defense of Jackson, arguing that his record as a personal physician to the past three presidents was sterling.
The Washington Post has independently been told similar stories of misconduct by Jackson as those reported by Tester’s staff, including descriptions that he drank while on duty.
The document listed some allegations that have already been reported, such as Jackson’s nickname, “Candyman,” a reference to his alleged habit of doling out meds to staff and members of the press, particularly on White House trips.
According to the document: “Jackson was described as ‘the most unethical person I have ever worked with,’ ‘flat-out unethical,’ ‘explosive,’ ‘100 percent bad temper,’ ‘toxic,’ ‘abusive,’ ‘volatile,’ ‘incapable of not losing his temper,’ ‘the worst officer I have ever served with,’ ‘despicable,’ ‘dishonest,’ as having ‘screaming tantrums’ and “screaming fits,’ as someone who would ‘lose his mind over small things,’ ‘vindictive,’ ‘belittling,’ ‘the worse leader I’ve ever worked for.’”
Jackson had come under fire for his glowing appraisal of Trump’s health following his annual physical in January. Jackson said then that the president might live to the age of 200 with a healthier diet.