Politico: Joe Biden was not aware of the hospitalization of his defense secretary.
The Politico news site reported that the Secretary of Defense was in the intensive care unit (ICU) for four days and Biden did not know about it.
In a report referring to the secrecy of the Minister of Defense of this country regarding his hospitalization, Politico news website reported, quoting informed sources, that the head of the Pentagon kept this issue a secret from Joe Biden’s administration for three days.
The US Department of Defense only revealed on Friday night that Lloyd Austin had been hospitalized at Walter Reed Medical Center since the previous Monday. Defense Department spokesman Patrick Ryder said Friday that it was due to complications after a recent elective medical procedure. Ryder claimed that the 70-year-old official is on the mend and expects to resume full duties today.
In justifying the secrecy of the Pentagon, he added that the decision to keep this matter secret was made based on the privacy of the Minister of Defense and also “the changing situation”.
Ryder told reporters that Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks was ready to take over her boss’s powers if necessary. He noted that Hicks ran some of the Department of Defense newspaper issues on Austin’s behalf.
However, ABC News reported in this context that the Pentagon did not provide any information about his medical conditions and that he was hospitalized in the intensive care unit for 4 days.
A well-informed source of this network also revealed that despite the Pentagon’s statement about Austin’s recovery, he is still in the hospital.
According to three US officials interviewed by Politico, not only was the public unaware of Austin’s hospitalization, but neither was Biden and his administration.
The report also added that White
In a report referring to the secrecy of the Minister of Defense of this country regarding his hospitalization, Politico news website reported, quoting informed sources, that the head of the Pentagon kept this issue a secret from Joe Biden’s administration for three days.
The US Department of Defense only revealed on Friday night that Lloyd Austin had been hospitalized at Walter Reed Medical Center since the previous Monday. Defense Department spokesman Patrick Ryder said Friday that it was due to complications after a recent elective medical procedure. Ryder claimed that the 70-year-old official is on the mend and expects to resume full duties today.
In justifying the secrecy of the Pentagon, he added that the decision to keep this matter secret was made based on the privacy of the Minister of Defense and also “the changing situation”.
Ryder told reporters that Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks was ready to take over her boss’s powers if necessary. He noted that Hicks ran some of the Department of Defense newspaper issues on Austin’s behalf.
However, ABC News reported in this context that the Pentagon did not provide any information about his medical conditions and that he was hospitalized in the intensive care unit for 4 days.
A well-informed source of this network also revealed that despite the Pentagon’s statement about Austin’s recovery, he is still in the hospital.
According to three US officials interviewed by Politico, not only was the public unaware of Austin’s hospitalization, but neither was Biden and his administration.
The report also added that White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and other senior White House officials did not learn of the Defense Secretary’s absence until January 4th, three days after the fact. According to informed sources, Sullivan informed Joe Biden immediately after being informed.
House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and other senior White House officials did not learn of the Defense Secretary’s absence until January 4th, three days after the fact. According to informed sources, Sullivan informed Joe Biden immediately after being informed.