New Allegations Emerge Against Ronny Jackson as White House Digs In

[Cattledog]

Source: NYT

WASHINGTON — Dr. Ronny L. Jackson, the White House physician nominated to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, provided “a large supply” of Percocet, a prescription opioid, to a White House military office staff member, throwing his own medical staff “into a panic” when the medical unit could not account for the missing drugs, according to a summary of questionable deeds compiled by the Democratic staff of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

A nurse on his staff said Dr. Jackson had written himself prescriptions, and when caught, he asked a physician assistant to provide the medication. And at a Secret Service going away party, the doctor got intoxicated and “wrecked a government vehicle,” according to the summary.

The two-page summary fleshes out three categories of accusations — prescription drug misuse, hostile work environment and drunkenness — that threaten to derail President Trump’s nominee. It details the testimony of 23 current and former colleagues of Dr. Jackson, many of whom are still in the military.

White House officials on Wednesday ratcheted up their public defense of Dr. Jackson, calling charges of workplace misconduct leveled against him “outrageous” even as new incidents of questionable conduct surfaced.


Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/25/us/politics/ronny-jackson-veterans-affairs-nomination.html?action=Click&contentCollection=BreakingNews&contentID=66882998&pgtype=Homepage

[RockRaven]

1. Once again Trump is going to be his own worst enemy...

This is the hill Trump wants to die on?

I get it, Trump can't admit he made a mistake, so he won't admit this guy wasn't vetted properly and isn't qualified for the job anyway. But that is a really dumb move. Just cut and run, Dumb Donnie, this one isn't worth it.

[hlthe2b]

3. He's also pretty much stuck with him as lead physician if this falls apart--

So I'm sure Trump would prefer not to have angered his own physician.

[dhill926]

2. he sounds perfect for this mis-administration....

and wasn't the orange menace criticizing him just yesterday?

[Mr.Bill]

4. And every republican in the Senate will vote to confirm him.

Every. Single. One.

[Plucketeer]

5. Even the FEW half-ass acceptable cabinet members

that get sucked in - er - recruited, quickly realize the morass they've trudged into - and want OUT of! That's happened enough that nothing but the dregs can be tempted to come to work for this shithole president at this point!

[paleotn]

6. Toast.

[Ilsa]

7. If only trump practiced "extreme vetting."

Nomination is cooked.

[meadowlander]

12. Yes, this is the crew we have put in charge

Of determining who it is safe to let into the country.

[Nitram]

13. Trump does practice extreme vetting!

He wants only the most inexperienced, crooked, anti-democratic nominees. Now that's extreme!

[BigmanPigman]

8. He sounds like the new W House version of "Dr. Robert"

by the Beatles. His name is Dr. Ronny and his main job will be handing out "diet pills" to the fucking moron.

[rurallib]

9. yep!

[Nitram]

14. Or The Stones "Mother's Little Helper."

"Doctor please, some more of these,
Outside the door, she took four more."

[htuttle]

10. What does this mean for Kellyanne Conway's Anti-Opioid Addiction initiative?

Tried to keep a straight face when I typed that. Failed.

[brooklynite]

11. Politico: "Republican support for Jackson collapses"

GOP support for the Veterans Affairs nominee has cratered in the face of allegations of misconduct as White House physician. Jackson already faced serious doubts over his lack of management experience. At this point, it would take a miraculous comeback by Jackson to survive at least two more weeks of scrutiny and growing discomfort among Republican senators over his nomination.

With Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) absent, the party controls 50 seats, meaning that only one Republican in opposition could derail Jackson’s nomination if Democrats unite in opposition to him. Any corroboration of whistleblower accusations — from crashing a government car while drunk to abusing his power to prescribe pills — will be enough to publicly sink the nomination.

The nomination, said Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), is “very unlikely” to go forward.

“All of us had questions before any of these recent allegations just on experience and qualifications,” Flake said. Asked how Jackson could be confirmed, he replied: “You tell me.”

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/25/jackson-senate-republicans-trump-553693