A House committee called on Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to testify before Congress next month about his recent hospitalization, but he did not immediately reveal it to the White House.
Rep. Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said in a letter to Austin on Thursday that the secretary was “unwilling to give candid and complete answers” about “secrets” about his health. He said he would need to testify at a full committee hearing in February. .14.
Despite the Pentagon chief's apparent promise of “full transparency,” Rogers said Austin asked a number of “concerning” questions about the hospitalization, specifically that the secretary told staff that He suggested that he had not answered the question of whether he instructed the president or others not to tell him.
“Unfortunately, this leads me to believe that information is being withheld from Congress,” Rogers wrote in a four-page letter. “Parliament needs to understand what happened and who took the decision to prevent the release of ministers' whereabouts.”
Austin was released from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday after a two-week stay.
He was initially admitted to the hospital on December 22 to undergo minimally invasive surgery to treat prostate cancer, which was discovered earlier that month.
Read more: Lloyd Austin discreetly requests an ambulance to pick him up, revealed through 911 call
Doctors said Austin went home the morning after the surgery, but he was readmitted to the hospital on January 1 due to complications from the surgery, reportedly suffering from abdominal, leg and hip pain and nausea. It is said to be caused by an infectious disease that manifested itself in the form of infection.
For several days, Pentagon officials did not notify the president, Congress, or the public about Austin's hospitalization or illness, resulting in a lack of transparency, including a lack of transparency that led to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks not knowing about Austin's hospitalization and blaming Austin. The fact that he had accepted the job was met with suspicion and scrutiny.
Austin said in a statement that he recognizes that “we could have done a better job by making sure the public was properly informed,” adding, “We will do a better job. But this is important. This is my medical practice and I take full responsibility for my decisions.” Regarding disclosure. ”
President Biden criticized the secretary's secrecy but expressed gratitude for Austin's admission that he made a mistake in judgment. But others are digging deeper, with the Pentagon ordering a review of its notification procedures for such events and the inspector general opening an investigation into the “role, process, and conduct” surrounding Austin's hospitalization.
Mr. Rogers said in a letter Thursday that he expects Mr. Austin to provide “full honesty and cooperation” on the matter going forward, including the transfer of duties to Mr. Hicks, at a hearing next month. I have listed some questions that I would like answered. Written communications between Pentagon staff regarding his health status and a list of military operations conducted while he was not serving as Secretary of Defense.
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