Dem report bashes VA nominee
Jackson denies allegations as White House steps up defense
WASHINGTON — Dr. Ronny Jackson had a pattern of recklessly prescribing drugs and drunken behavior, including crashing a government vehicle while intoxicated and doling out a large supply of a prescription opioid to a White House military staff member, according to a summary of accusations compiled by Democratic staff on the committee considering his nomination as Veterans Affairs secretary.
The summary was based on conversations with 23 of Jackson’s current and former colleagues at the White House Medical Unit.
In just a matter of days, the allegations have transformed Jackson’s reputation as a celebrated doctor attending the president to an embattled nominee accused of drinking on the job and over-prescribing drugs. President Donald Trump continues to stand by Jackson and the White House is aggressively defending him.
Jackson on Wednesday denied allegations of bad behavior and told reporters at the White House he was “still moving ahead as planned.”
“I never wrecked a car,” he said. “I have no idea where that is coming from.”
The allegations were publicly released on the day that Jackson’s confirmation hearing was to have been held. The hearing was postponed indefinitely.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Wednesday that Jackson had passed “at least four independent background checks” that found “no areas of concern.”
According to the summary released by Democrats, Jackson was nicknamed “Candyman” by White House staff because he would provide prescriptions without paperwork and had his own private stock of controlled substances.
Marc Short, the White House legislative director, could not say he was confident the allegations were false. He was “not familiar” with the car wreck episode.
But Short also suggested Democratic Sen. Jon Tester of Montana was airing the allegations for political gain.
“It’s quite unusual for a United States senator to take allegations that have not been fully investigated, but to flaunt them to the national public to suggest he’s the ‘Candyman’ I think is outrageous.”
Jackson, a White House physician since 2006, met privately with Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday, and the president urged him to keep fighting to win confirmation, according to a White House official briefed on the meeting. The official, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity to describe internal discussions, said Jackson denied the allegations.
The White House released handwritten reports from Trump and former President Barack Obama praising Jackson’s leadership and medical care and recommending him for promotion.