OAN's Avril Elfie
3pm – Sunday, January 7, 2024
Members of Congress and Pentagon officials were not informed for several days of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's hospitalization, even the deputy secretary who took over some of his responsibilities.
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U.S. officials said Saturday that Biden administration officials, Pentagon officials and members of Congress did not know for several days that Austin had been hospitalized since Monday, amid concerns about his health and the secrecy surrounding it. Announced.
The Pentagon did not notify Chief Counsel Jake Sullivan or the White House National Security Council about Austin's hospitalization at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, until Thursday, two government officials said.
In a statement released Saturday night, Austin took responsibility for the delay in communication.
“We know we could have done a better job making sure the public had the right information, and we are committed to doing better,” Austin said, acknowledging concerns about transparency. “But this is important: This is my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for any disclosure decisions.”
The 70-year-old man remains hospitalized due to complications following a minor elective medical procedure, a spokesperson said.
Austin gave no additional information about his illness in his statement, other than to say he is feeling better and hopes to return to the Pentagon soon.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said lawmakers were notified late Friday afternoon and other officials said they received information after 5 p.m.
It's unclear when Austin's senior leadership team members were informed, but word of Austin's hospitalization had spread throughout the Pentagon when the department released a statement shortly after 5 p.m., prior to Austin being on leave for a week. Many thought he was absent.
Rider said Saturday that Austin was recovering well and was back to normal work from his hospital bed Friday night.
Asked about the length of his hospitalization being kept secret, Ryder said it was a “developing situation” and that the Pentagon chose not to publicize Austin's absence due to privacy and medical concerns. Ta.
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), the highest-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, criticized the delay in notification.
“The Pentagon intentionally withheld the Secretary of Defense's medical condition for several days. That is unacceptable,” Wicker said. “We are learning more by the hour about the department's shocking violations of law.”
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