Jackson Withdraws as Trump's Nominee to Head VA

UPDATE - April 26, 2018: Dr. Ronny Jackson, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Veterans Affairs Department, withdrew his nomination on Thursday among a flurry of misconduct allegations, including drinking on the job and improperly dispensing sleeping medication.

"While I will forever be grateful for the trust and confidence President Trump has placed in me by giving me this opportunity, I am regretfully withdrawing my nomination to be Secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs," Jackson said in a statement.

 A full list of the charges against Jackson can be found here. They include:

• A pattern of Jackson “handing out Ambien (to sleep) and Provigil (to wake up) without triaging patient history (no intakes, no questionnaires) on Air Force One.”
• Jackson writing himself prescriptions and having his staff “write scripts for each other to give to non-beneficiaries.”
• Jackson having “private stocks of controlled substances.”
• “At a Secret Service going away party, Jackson got drunk and wrecked a government vehicle.”
• Those working under Jackson “noted a constant fear of reprisal” and described the doctor as “the most unethical person I have ever worked with.”

Countable’s original story appears below. 

What’s the story?

• The confirmation hearing for Ronny Jackson – President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Veterans Affairs Department – has been indefinitely postponed among questions of misconduct by the nominee.
• 20 active duty and former military members alleged Jackson created a hostile work environment, drank on the job, and improperly dispensed sleeping medication.

What are the allegations? What's the response?

• Sen. John Tester of Montana, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, described how on overseas trips Jackson would allegedly “go down the aisle way of the airplane and say, 'All right, who wants to go to sleep?' And hand out the prescription drugs like they were candy ... and put them to sleep and then give them the drugs to wake them back up again."
• Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, said Jackson denied drinking while on duty.
• In a video captured by MSNBC, Jackson said:

"I was looking forward to the hearing. Kind of disappointed that it's been postponed, but I'm looking forward to getting it rescheduled and answering everybody's questions."

• Tester and Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-GA) sent a letter to Trump on Tuesday requesting “all documentation pertaining to Rear Admiral Jackson’s service in the White House Medical Unit and as Physician to the President.”
• The White House is defending the nomination, with spokesman Hogan Gidley telling NPR:

"Dr. Jackson deserves a fair hearing, and we are not going to write him off in any way before his hearing, and quite frankly neither should members of Congress.”

What do you think?

Should Jackson get a hearing? Or should the Veterans’ Affairs Committee collect more information before rescheduling the hearing? Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: @RedTeaRacoon via Twitter)