Navy Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson is "highly qualified" and has been "thoroughly vetted" — including by the FBI — to serve as Veteran Affairs secretary, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Wednesday.
"Dr. Jackson's record as a White House physician has been impeccable," Sanders told reporters at the daily briefing. "Because he's worked within arm's reach of three presidents, he has received the most vetting of most nominees.
"Given his unique position of trust and responsibility, his background and character were evaluated during three different administrations.
"During each of those investigations, Dr. Jackson received unanimous praise from dozens of witnesses and the investigations revealed no area of concern," Sanders said.
"He's a highly qualified individual, and we're going to continue looking at this and continue moving forward," she said.
Jackson's confirmation hearings before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee remained in limbo Wednesday as he took to Capitol Hill to convince lawmakers of his leadership abilities as allegations of unprofessional conduct, drunkenness and creating a toxic work environment continued to surface.
A 2012 report by the Navy's Medical Inspector General found Jackson, 50, and a rival physician exhibited "unprofessional behaviors" in jockeying for control over the White House medical unit.
The inspector general also found a lack of trust in the leadership and low morale among staff members, who described the working environment as "being caught between parents going through a bitter divorce."
In addition, CNN reported Wednesday an intoxicated Jackson was banging so loudly on the hotel room door of a female employee during one trip the Secret Service stepped in to prevent him from possibly disturbing then-President Barack Obama.
Sen. Jon Tester, the Montana Democrat and ranking Veterans' Affairs Committee member, said as many as 20 people have come forward with allegations against Jackson — including him being known as "The Candy Man" for easily doling out prescription medications.
"The information we got on Adm. Jackson is not good," Tester told Anderson Cooper on CNN on Tuesday.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday said whether Jackson continued the confirmation process was his decision — and the nominee indicated he wanted to move forward.
In turn, the White House stepped up its campaign for Jackson's confirmation Wednesday, releasing a 2016 statement from Obama saying: "Ronny's positive impact cannot be overstated.
"He is a tremendous asset to the entire White House team," Obama said. "Already at a level of performance and responsibility that far exceeds is current rank, promote to Rear Admiral now."
Sanders referenced Obama's review Wednesday in reiterating Jackson's qualifications, adding the responsibility fell on Congress to investigate the latest allegations.
"There's been a pretty thorough vetting process done by the FBI, as well as three other independent investigations, but that's part of what the nomination process of Congress and why they should move forward with a hearing," Sanders said.
Sanders also slammed a reporter for saying President Trump suggested Jackson might lack the experience to run the sprawling V.A. in his Tuesday comments.
"That's not what the president said," Sanders retorted. "I think you're taking some of his words out of context.
"I know you don't appreciate when people take your words out of context," she continued. "I'd appreciate it if you not do that to the president.
"If he didn't think he had the experience, he wouldn't have nominated him."
Sanders said Trump said what he did because "that had been one of the questions people had posed about him."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.