Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson‘s confirmation hearing, initially set for Wednesday, has been postponed pending an investigation into allegations against him. | Andrew Harnik/AP Photo The White House mounts full defense of Ronny Jackson, Trump’s VA nominee The move comes as new allegations, including workplace misdeeds and over-prescribing medication, threaten to sink the nomination.

The White House on Tuesday mounted an all-out defense of President Donald Trump’s embattled pick to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs as serious allegations of misbehavior threatened to tank the nomination.

Trump met with Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson, the White House physician and VA secretary nominee, in the Oval Office on Tuesday evening. A White House official described it as a “positive meeting,” adding that the president pledged to stand behind Jackson and push back on the allegations against him. Jackson, in turn, said he had no current plans to withdraw his nomination.


Jackson, whom Trump announced as his VA nominee via Twitter last month, is facing allegations of creating a hostile workplace environment, over-prescribing medication and drinking while on duty.

The allegations, which are circulating among members of Congress, could further complicate an already difficult Senate confirmation. Lawmakers in both parties had already raised concerns about Jackson’s lack of experience, worrying that he doesn’t have the chops to run the government’s second-largest bureaucracy.

But by Tuesday night, the White House was circulating talking points aimed at countering the allegations, saving Jackson’s nomination and heading off another embarrassing defeat of one of the president’s Cabinet picks.

“Dr. Jackson’s record as a White House physician is impeccable,” a senior administration official said in a statement. “He has improved unit morale, received glowing reviews and promotions under Republican and Democrat presidents, and has been given a clean vet from the FBI.”

The allegations against Jackson have reignited lingering paranoia in the West Wing that administration officials are working against the president’s priorities. It’s no secret that many White House officials harbored doubts about Jackson’s nomination, and several top West Wing aides believe that his critics in the administration are trying to kill the nomination or pressure Trump to choose a different nominee.

But Trump, who has for years complained that he is being unfairly treated by the news media and his political opponents, is sympathetic to the doctor’s situation, according to another White House official.

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Earlier Tuesday, Trump appeared to send mixed signals about Jackson, telling reporters during a news conference that he would “always” support Jackson, but openly musing about why he’d want the job in the face of intense media scrutiny.

“He’s a fine man. I’ll always stand behind him,” Trump said about the White House physician, adding that it was Jackson’s choice to remain the nominee or withdraw. “What does he need it for? To be abused by a bunch of politicians that aren’t thinking nicely about our country? I really don’t think, personally, he should do it, but it’s totally his … decision.”

During the Tuesday news conference, Trump wasn’t sending a message to Jackson that he should step down, the White House official said. The president was instead publicly reflecting his frustration at seeing somebody he likes face such intense and personal criticism.

But others in the White House believe it is foolhardy to continue backing a nominee who was facing a rocky confirmation even before the rumors began circulating, given his lack of experience leading such a large organization. One administration official privately expressed annoyance that Trump’s penchant for nominating his friends and allies with little vetting had led to another confirmation mess.

Among the documents provided by the White House in its bid to push back on the allegations were evaluations from Trump and President Barack Obama, including handwritten notes from both from 2014 to 2017.

“Ronny does a great job — genuine enthusiasm, poised under pressure, incredible work ethic and follow through,” Obama scrawled on a 2016 report. “Ronny continues to inspire confidence with the care he provides to me, my family and my team. Continue to promote ahead of peers.”

Obama recommended “early promote” in each of the three evaluations provided by the White House.

The White House also distributed two inspector general reports from 2012 and 2013, when Jackson was director of the White House Medical Unit and Jeffrey Kuhlman was physician to the president. The reports painted a strained relationship between the two that created problems throughout the unit, but seemed to place most of the blame on Kuhlman. Jackson replaced Kuhlman as physician to the president in July 2013.

Meanwhile, lawmakers announced that they would delay Jackson’s confirmation hearing — which was scheduled for Wednesday — in order to get more information about the allegations. The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee is demanding 12 years of documents about Jackson’s service as the presidential physician and in the White House medical unit.

The allegations were in full public view by Tuesday afternoon after Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, the top Democrat on the committee, gave an interview with NPR outlining the allegations. Tester said allegations included “improper dispensing of prescription drugs, repeatedly drunk while on duty while traveling and creating a toxic work environment.”

White House officials first became aware of the rumors about Jackson when Capitol Hill aides passed along what they were hearing, one of the White House officials said.

Privately, Republicans are fretting that a flood of bad press could prove unsustainable and derail the nomination to lead the sprawling agency.

“I can’t tell” if it’s in trouble, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) said. “I don’t know if the allegations are credible. If they are, it’s a serious matter.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was noncommittal on Tuesday morning when asked whether he had confidence in Jackson. “We are going to wait and see what the administration and Chairman Isakson recommend, McConnell said, referring to Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.).

Members of Trump’s legislative affairs team huddled on Tuesday morning to discuss the nomination as reports of allegations proliferated. After the meeting, a White House official said there were no current plans to withdraw the nomination, and the press shop separately issued a public statement in support of Jackson.

“Admiral Jackson has been on the front lines of deadly combat and saved the lives of many others in service to this country,” deputy White House press secretary Hogan Gidley said in a statement on Tuesday. “He’s served as the physician to three presidents — Republican and Democrat — and been praised by them all. Admiral Jackson’s record of strong, decisive leadership is exactly what’s needed at the VA to ensure our veterans receive the benefits they deserve.”

Meanwhile, Jackson was making his case for his nomination on Tuesday despite the firestorm, meeting with Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), a member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, in his Capitol Hill office as a horde of journalists waited outside.

“He does deny that he’s done anything wrong in his service to the country and particularly his time at the White House,” Moran said after meeting with Jackson. “He knows of nothing that would prohibit him from being qualified.”

A failed nomination would be an embarrassing debacle for the White House, and the postponed hearing is reminiscent of Andy Puzder’s failed nomination to be labor secretary last year.

Republicans are operating under a razor-thin majority of 51 senators, several of whom have already expressed concern with Jackson’s lack of experience to operate the massive VA.

Isakson and Tester wrote Trump a letter on Tuesday asking for “all documentation pertaining to Rear Admiral Jackson’s service in the White House medical unit and as Physician to the President.”

In the meantime, senators are being cautious about the claims of misconduct.

“Swirl of allegations happens all the time,” said Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), a member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “You have to show proof. Haven’t seen that yet.”

Trump named the White House physician to lead the sprawling bureaucracy after firing David Shulkin, even after Isakson personally implored Trump to keep Shulkin. The move raised eyebrows in Congress and among veterans groups because Jackson has never led a large organization.

Veterans groups said the delay and additional vetting for Jackson were appropriate.

“This is an important Cabinet position,” said Dan Caldwell, executive director of Concerned Veterans for America. “If the Senate needs more time to properly vet this nominee, they should take that time. I just hope that the confirmation process for the VA secretary doesn’t distract from passing legislation to fix the VA’s Choice and community care programs.”

Democrats took an aggressive posture toward the allegations against Jackson, demanding more information and saying the scandal reflected poorly on Trump’s White House.

“It needs to be addressed. Right now. Today,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) told POLITICO. “The White House needs to be forthcoming. It has been clearly careless and negligent in vetting.”

The nomination will be “unacceptable” unless the White House offers further information, Blumenthal added.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on Tuesday morning: “Maybe one day the president, who we know acts on impulse, had this nominee in the room ... and said: ‘Hey, let’s put you up without any vetting.’”

As the White House physician, Jackson had already been subjected to a basic background check and review of his past. But multiple people familiar with the process said he did not undergo a thorough vetting ahead of his nomination to lead the VA.

The concern on Capitol Hill is palpable. Isakson spoke with fellow committee members over the weekend to discuss the “unsubstantiated allegations,” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) told NPR on Tuesday.

“We have been given a brief sketch of what they are, but I’d prefer not to discuss them at this time. As I say, they are unsubstantiated,” Rounds said. “The chairman is aware of them. He’s discussed them with the White House. … These are serious allegations and they’re ones that we most certainly want to get through and vet properly.”

Elana Schor, Lorraine Woellert and Louis Nelson contributed to this report.

