The Pentagon’s story about Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin’s secret hospital keep is getting worse the extra Austin’s spokesman says about it. New statements on Sunday by Pentagon Press Secretary Main Basic Pat Ryder try to clarify the how of Austin’s sickness and secrecy however not the why. Extremely Ryder blames the failure to inform Joe Biden and the White Home till Thursday on Austin’s chief of workers Kelly Magsamen taking in poor health. Additionally, Ryder says Austin, who stays at Walter Reed Nationwide Navy Medical Middle in Bethesda, Maryland, overstayed his time within the ICU due to house and privateness considerations. In different phrases, Austin took an ICU mattress he now not wanted in order to maintain his situation secret. Austin refuses to reveal the character of his sickness or why he saved it secret, besides that it adopted an elective medical process.
Ryder gave no estimate on when the 70-year-old Austin could also be launched or whether or not Austin was taken by ambulance when he took in poor health on New Yr’s Day.
As secretary of Protection, Austin is sixth in line of succession to the presidency (VP, Home Speaker, Senate Professional Tempore, Secretaries of State, Treasury, Protection…)
Earlier Sunday, Ryder issued a bland press release on Austin:
Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder offered the next assertion:
Secretary of Protection Lloyd J. Austin III stays hospitalized at Walter Reed Nationwide Navy Medical Middle however is recovering nicely and in good spirits.
Since resuming his duties on Friday night, the Secretary has acquired operational updates and has offered obligatory steering to his workforce. He has full entry to required safe communications capabilities and continues to observe DoD’s day-to-day operations worldwide.
The Secretary spoke to President Biden yesterday. He has additionally been in touch with Deputy Secretary of Protection Kathleen Hicks, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. and his senior workers.
Whereas we don’t have a particular date for his launch right now, we’ll proceed to supply updates on the Secretary’s standing as they develop into out there.
Sunday night Ryder issued a press release to reporters with extra particulars on the how , however not the why, that raises extra questions and outrage.
Reporters posted numerous takes on Ryder’s assertion:
ABC Information’ Luis Martinez, “1/3“On Friday, December 22, Secretary of Protection Lloyd J. Austin III underwent an elective medical process at Walter Reed Nationwide Navy Medical Middle. He was on go away on the time. He returned dwelling on Saturday, December 23,” @PentagonPressSec tells @jparkABC…2/3″On the night of January 1, he started experiencing extreme ache and was transported to Walter Reed Nationwide Navy Medical Middle the place he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit,” Ryder instructed ABC…3/3 “For privateness causes, we’re not in a position to present further data. He was positioned within the hospital’s intensive care unit to make sure quick entry to because of his medical wants, however then remained in that location partly because of hospital house concerns and privateness.”
1/3“On Friday, December 22, Secretary of Protection Lloyd J. Austin III underwent an elective medical process at Walter Reed Nationwide Navy Medical Middle. He was on go away on the time. He returned dwelling on Saturday, December 23,” @PentagonPressSec tells@jparkABC
— luis martinez (@LMartinezABC) January 7, 2024
3/3 “For privateness causes, we’re not in a position to present further data. He was positioned within the hospital’s intensive care unit to make sure quick entry to because of his medical wants, however then remained in that location partly because of hospital house concerns and privateness,”
— luis martinez (@LMartinezABC) January 7, 2024
CBS Information’ Eleanor Watson, “New particulars on Protection Secretary Austin’s hospitalization, per @PentagonPresSec:- Dec 22 – Austin had an elective medical process at Walter Reed. – Dec 23 – he returned home- Jan 1 – he started experiencing extreme ache, was transported to Walter Reed and admitted to ICU…He was admitted to the ICU for each his medical wants and privateness. The delay in notifying the White Home and the deputy secretary is as a result of Austin’s chief of workers had an sickness.”
He was admitted to the ICU for each his medical wants and privateness. The delay in notifying the White Home and the deputy secretary is as a result of Austin’s chief of workers had an sickness.
— Eleanor Watson (@ellee_watson) January 7, 2024
Timeline on who was instructed and when:
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers Basic Charles Q. Brown Jr. was instructed Tuesday, the day after Austin went to Walter Reed. Brown apparently didn’t inform Biden or anybody.
Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks carried out a few of Austin’s duties whereas on trip in Puerto Rico however she was not knowledgeable till Thursday he was within the hospital.
Joe Biden and the White Home, together with Nationwide Safety Advisor Jake Sullivan weren’t instructed till Thursday.
Congress was not knowledgeable till Friday, simply fifteen minutes earlier than the Pentagon issued a press launch.
Senior army and civilian officers on the Pentagon acquired an e-mail from Austin’s chief of workers Friday afternoon, two hours earlier than the press launch was issued.
Some Pentagon officers weren’t instructed in any respect and discovered about Austin’s sickness from press stories Friday evening.
Different Pentagon officers had been lied to by Austin’s workers over the week, being instructed he was working at dwelling, reported Politico (excerpt):
“However Austin’s hospitalization was a intently guarded secret, saved from even senior Pentagon officers and congressional leaders till simply earlier than the general public assertion, in line with 9 DOD officers and two congressional aides. Some Pentagon officers solely discovered of Austin’s state of affairs by Ryder’s information launch. One of many DOD officers stated their workplace was instructed by Austin’s aides that the secretary was working from dwelling for the week.”
Earlier TGP stories on Austin’s secret hospital keep:
DEVELOPING: Lloyd Austin Health Scare More Dire Than Pentagon Admits
