World Courant
Republicans within the Home of Representatives on Thursday demanded to know whose determination it was to maintain Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin’s hospital secret from the White Home and Congress.
Throughout a listening to earlier than the Republican Get together-led Home Armed Service Committee, Austin — who’s testifying for the primary time since present process surgical procedure for prostate most cancers and being handled for underlying issues — mentioned he mishandled his hospitalization and that there was of a communications error that left the Pentagon. Officers and the White Home had been unaware of his situation for days.
White Home officers mentioned they weren’t conscious of Austin’s state of affairs till he was hospitalized in intensive look after a number of days.
Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin testifies throughout a listening to earlier than the Home Armed Companies Committee on the Rayburn Home Workplace Constructing on Feb. 29, 2024, in Washington.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
In his opening assertion, Austin mentioned there was a “disruption in reporting” whereas he was within the hospital and that he takes “full accountability” for the lapse. He mentioned he by no means instructed anybody on his employees to maintain his hospitalization a secret.
“Once more, we didn’t deal with this correctly. And I did not deal with this correctly. And as you realize, I’ve apologized… together with on to the president. And I take full accountability.”
Austin reiterated that there have been by no means any deficiencies in authority or command and management — that he or the deputy secretary have been “able to discharging the duties of my workplace.”
“I ought to have instantly knowledgeable the President, my workforce, Congress and the American individuals of my most cancers prognosis and subsequent therapy,” he mentioned.
Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin testifies throughout a listening to earlier than the Home Armed Companies Committee on the Rayburn Home Workplace Constructing on Feb. 29, 2024, in Washington.
Alex Wong/Getty Photographs
Austin additionally instructed the Home panel that he’s “fully cured” of his prostate most cancers as a result of it was caught early.
The listening to bought off to a controversial begin when Rep. Jim Banks — one in every of Austin’s prime critics — requested whether or not the president was out to lunch or whether or not the protection secretary was merely irrelevant.
“Are you stunned the president hasn’t requested to your resignation?” ‘banks requested.
Austin appeared on the congressman and replied bluntly, “The president has expressed full confidence in me.”
Banks then puzzled how the president couldn’t discuss to his protection chief for 3 days and never assume a lot about it.
“Both the president is so distant, or you’re irrelevant. Which one is it, Mr. Secretary, that you just learn concerning the President going away for 3 days with out understanding that his Secretary of Protection just isn’t at work?”
Consultant Matt Gaetz speaks with U.S. Consultant Ro Khanna as Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin testifies throughout a listening to of the Home Committee on Armed Companies in Washington, February 29, 2024.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
“That is neither. The president just isn’t aloof. And I…take part in” all discussions, Austin replied earlier than being interrupted once more.
Austin responded that “it might occur” and that there are occasions when there are “days with out direct communication” – particularly when the president is touring.
Banks mentioned this case was an indication of weak spot for our adversaries.
‘Our opponents should be afraid of us. And what you probably did has embarrassed us,” Banks mentioned.
Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin testifies throughout a listening to earlier than the Home Armed Companies Committee on the Rayburn Home Workplace Constructing on Feb. 29, 2024, in Washington.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Rep. Alabama Republican Chairman Mike Rogers on Thursday known as the communication error “completely unacceptable.”
“It’s fully unacceptable that it took greater than three days to tell the president that the Secretary of Protection was within the hospital and had no management over the Pentagon,” Rep. Mike Rogers, the Alabama Republican chairman, mentioned in remarks Thursday have been ready.
“Wars have been raging in Ukraine and Israel, our ships have been beneath hearth within the Pink Sea and our bases have been getting ready for assault in Iraq and Syria. However the commander-in-chief didn’t know that his protection minister was out of motion.” in line with Rogers’ ready remarks.
An inner Pentagon investigation concluded there was no proof of “malicious intent or an try and cowl up” by Austin’s aides. As a substitute, the report discovered, employees have been involved about medical privateness and not sure of protocol in a quickly altering state of affairs.
Austin has mentioned he by no means instructed his employees to maintain his hospitalization quiet.
However the Pentagon overview didn’t reply key questions on when particular person aides turned conscious of Austin’s situation, why every particular person selected to not alert the chain of command and whether or not the Secretary of Protection himself was suggested to alert the White Home however selected to not. not to try this. It’s also unclear whether or not Austin’s aides instructed others inside the division to not share the data.
In his testimony on Thursday, Austin was anticipated to say the accident was his accountability.
Earlier this month, Austin described his most cancers prognosis as a “intestine punch” and mentioned his first intuition was to maintain it non-public. That was a mistake, he mentioned.
“We did not deal with this proper. I did not deal with this proper,” Austin mentioned.
‘I take full accountability’: Protection Secretary Austin testifies earlier than Home panel on covert hospitalization
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