Defense Secretary Austin Was Hospitalized All Week...And Didn't Tell Anyone
TownhallJan 21
Pentagon Chief Faces Scrutiny Over Secretive Hospital Stay
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The Facts
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is reportedly facing intense scrutiny over keeping Pres. Joe Biden and senior members of the White House uninformed about the extent of his multi-day hospitalization at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center last week.
He was admitted to the medical center on New Year's Day, reportedly due to "complications following a recent elective medical procedure." However, according to sources, Biden wasn't informed of his hospitalization until Thursday evening.
The Spin
Republican narrative
The Biden admin. had a major chain of command failure here. Amid tensions in the Middle East, it's unfathomable that Austin's hospitalization was hidden for at least three days. The Department of Defense must come clean about what exactly prevented one of the country's two National Command Authorities from carrying out his duties, especially when he is required to be present at a moment's notice to respond to any national security crisis. Congress must investigate this further.
Democratic narrative
Austin has taken full responsibility for not disclosing his condition sooner, and though he is still hospitalized, he has resumed his duties. There could be a myriad of reasons, including hospital space considerations and his privacy, as to why his absence was kept a secret. All details about his medical procedure, how serious it was, and how and when his responsibilities were delegated will be released as soon as possible. The Biden administration still has full confidence in its Secretary of Defense.
