Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin is on Capitol Hill today to be questioned by Republicans about his recent secret hospitalization in a moderate hearing, because “sitting too long” is painful for the still-recovering secretary.
Lawmakers are trying to figure out why he didn’t tell President Joe Biden about his sudden absence for three full days.
Austin, 70, was unexpectedly hospitalized on January 1 after undergoing surgery for prostate cancer a few weeks earlier.
He did not inform President Biden of his whereabouts until January 4. He also left second-in-command of Defense Kathleen Hicks in the dark.
“It is completely unacceptable that it took more than three days to inform the president that the Secretary of Defense was in the hospital and had no control over the Pentagon,” House Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers said during Thursday’s hearing. say.
Rogers also granted Austin’s request to limit the hearing’s duration to two hours as he is still recovering.
“We understand that you are still recovering, and sitting for too long is not the best for your health,” Rogers said in the DailyMail.com comments.
Austin was spotted walking extremely slowly down the hallway outside the interrogation room. He ignored DailyMail.com’s question about whether he is healthy enough to carry out his duties as defense minister.
Austin, 70, was unexpectedly admitted to hospital on January 1 after undergoing surgery for prostate cancer a week earlier
Many Republicans in the House of Representatives have called for his resignation for failing to inform Biden of his condition, especially with wars raging in Ukraine and Israel.
“So, in consultation with Ranking Member Smith, we have agreed to your request to limit your appearance before us today to two hours.”
That means not all lawmakers will be able to question Austin in person.
Many Republicans in the House of Representatives have called for his resignation for failing to inform Biden of his condition, especially with wars raging in Ukraine and Israel.
Austin did not reveal the cause of his surgery – his prostate cancer – until January 9 after facing days of questions about his hospitalization. Biden heard about it the same day as the general public.
The Pentagon released a report earlier this week clearing Austin of wrongdoing over his secret hospitalization, but Republicans still want answers.
“Nothing examined during this investigation showed any indication of malicious intent or an attempt at embezzlement,” the department concluded in its internal investigation. The unclassified portion was released Monday.
It found that medical privacy concerns and a rapidly evolving situation were largely responsible for why Austin’s hospitalization was kept hidden from President Joe Biden, senior Pentagon officials and the public.
Inspector General Robert Storch is still conducting his formal investigation. In making the announcement, he said his office would investigate any violations of protocol surrounding Austin’s surgery for prostate cancer, his readmission to the hospital due to complications and the lack of disclosure to the White House and the general public.
The finding is unlikely to satisfy members of Congress, many of whom called for Austin’s resignation.
Chairman Rogers addressed the report, saying he was “led to believe” the review would “shed light on the matter.”
But “it provides no explanation for why the president and his staff remained in the dark.”
In addition, it “does not make any recommendations to improve communications with the White House,” Rogers will say.
“And it will come as no surprise that no one is being held accountable,” he adds.
Austin was readmitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on February 11, reporting discomfort due to a bladder problem related to his prostate cancer surgery in December 2023. He was released on February 13.
He later apologized to President Biden and the American people for keeping his diagnosis a secret.
He said his prostate cancer diagnosis was a “gut attack” and that it “shook” him personally.
‘I was treated for prostate cancer. The news shocked me and I know it shocks so many others, especially in the black community. It was a punch,” he said.