Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition

Memo: VA pick crashed car while drunk

Current, ex-cohorts tell Senate Dems of doling out opioids

- By Hope Yen, Zeke Miller and Ken Thomas

WASHINGTON — Dr. Ronny Jackson had a pattern of recklessly prescribin­g drugs as well as 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 or former colleagues at the White House Medical Unit. The accusation­s included 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,” according to the summary.

At a Secret Service goingaway party, the summary says, Jackson got drunk and wrecked a government vehicle.

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.

A doomed VA nomination would be a political blow to the White House, which has faced criticism for sloppy screening of Cabinet nominees. 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 has been postponed indefinite­ly while the allegation­s against him are reviewed.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Wednesday that Jackson had passed “at least four independen­t background checks” that found “no areas of concern.”

“He has received more vetting than most nominees,” she said.

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.

Drugs he prescribed included Ambien, used for sleep, and Provigil, used to help wake up. In one case, the summary said, quantities of Percocet, a prescripti­on opioid, went missing and “threw WHMU into a panic. It turned out Jackson had provided a large supply to a White House Military Officer.”

Reports of overprescr­ibing and alcohol-related behavior problems can jeopardize a doctor’s license. Many state medical boards allow doctors to keep their licenses and return to practice if they complete special treatment programs and submit to random urine screens for some specified length of time. Addiction to drugs and alcohol is at least as common among physicians as in the general population.

Marc Short, the White House legislativ­e director, could not say he was confident the allegation­s were false. He was “not familiar” with 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.

“We’re standing by Jackson. Dr. Jackson will look forward to telling his story.”

Veterans groups are dismayed over the continuing uncertaint­y at the VA, already beset by infighting over improvemen­ts to veterans care.

“The American Legion is very concerned about the current lack of permanent leadership,” said Denise Rohan, national commander of The American Legion, the nation’s largest veterans organizati­on.

A watchdog report requested in 2012 and reviewed by The Associated Press found that Jackson and a rival physician exhibited “unprofessi­onal behaviors” as they engaged in a power struggle over the White House medical unit.

That report by the Navy’s Medical Inspector General found a lack of trust in the leadership and low morale among staff members, who described the working environmen­t as “being caught between parents going through a bitter divorce.”

It included no references to improper prescribin­g of drugs or the use of alcohol, as alleged in the summary compiled by the Democratic staff members.

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.

Trump’s first VA secretary, David Shulkin, was dismissed after an ethics scandal and mounting rebellion within the agency. But Jackson has faced numerous questions from lawmakers and veterans groups about whether he has the experience to manage the department of 360,000 employees serving 9 million veterans.

 ?? NICHOLAS KAMM/GETTY-AFP ?? A summary of accusation­s against Dr. Ronny Jackson includes him drinking on the job.
NICHOLAS KAMM/GETTY-AFP A summary of accusation­s against Dr. Ronny Jackson includes him drinking on the job.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States