Jackson denies claims
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s pick for Veterans Affairs secretary showed “a pattern” of questionable prescription drug practices 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 allegations compiled by Democratic staff of a Senate panel.
The two-page summary details complaints it received from 23 former and current colleagues of Dr. Ronny Jackson, who has served as a White House physician since 2006.
The memo released by Democrats on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee said they were told of multiple incidents of Jackson’s intoxication while on duty, often on overseas trips. On at least one occasion he was nowhere to be found when his medical help was needed because “he was passed out drunk in his hotel room.”
At a Secret Service going-away party, the summary says, Jackson got drunk and wrecked a government vehicle.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday at the White House, Jackson denied allegations of bad behavior. “I never wrecked a car,” he said. “I have no idea where that is coming from.”
He walked out a West Wing door and did not respond as reporters asked whether he was going to withdraw his nomination.
According to the summary, Jackson was nicknamed “Candyman” by White House staff because he would provide prescriptions without paperwork and had his own private stock of controlled substances.
The summary was released by Democrats as the White House rallied behind Jackson.
Drugs he prescribed included Ambien, used for sleep, and Provigil, used to help wake up. Only after the fact would Jackson account for pills or provide paper records to account for shortages, the summary said. In one case, it said, White House medical staff fell “into a panic” because he had provided a large supply of Percocet to a staffer.
The allegations were publicly released as the White House launched an all-out defense of Jackson’s nomination to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs amid concerns by Congress that Trump had not properly vetted him or other nominees.