A formal investigation has been opened by the Defense Department into the conduct of former White House physician Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson in the wake of allegations of on-the-job drinking, improper handling of prescription drugs and abusive behavior, Military Times reported Monday.
A spokesman for the department's Office of Inspector General told the news outlet a probe is underway to see if any punitive actions may be warranted. Jackson, who withdrew from consideration as President Donald Trump's nominee for Veterans Affairs Secretary after allegations by whistleblowers were made public, still works in the White House Medical Office, but no longer as its top doctor.
Jackson has maintained the charges are "completely false and fabricated" by political opponents.
"If they had any merit, I would not have been selected, promoted, and entrusted to serve in such a sensitive and important role as physician to three presidents over the past 12 years," he said April 26, Military Times reported.
As detailed by Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Democrats, the accusations included that Jackson wrote false prescription orders for himself and others, undermined superiors and subordinates to cover his mistakes, and frequently drank while on duty, one time crashing a government vehicle while drunk.
Defense officials have not said what penalties Jackson might face if he is found guilty of unprofessional behavior, or what recourse he might have if he is cleared of the charges.
Last month, Trump announced plans to nominate Robert Wilkie the Pentagon's undersecretary for Personnel and Readiness as the next VA secretary. Wilkie served as acting VA secretary during Jackson's nomination.
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