The Pentagon made a statement amid the Austin hospitalization scandal

After a scandal erupted in the United States due to the delay in reporting the hospitalization of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Pentagon Spokesman General Patrick Ryder made an official statement in which he detailed the development of events, reports Ukrinform.

“On December 22, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin underwent a routine medical procedure at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. During the procedure and while in the hospital, he delegated operational authority to the Deputy Secretary of Defense,” Ryder said.

Austin went home the day after the procedure and continued working from there through the Christmas holiday, he said.

“On the evening of January 1, he began to feel very ill and was taken by ambulance to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit. He was conscious, but in pain. That night he was evaluated. and examined by doctors”, said Ryder.

On January 2, based on medical recommendations, certain powers of the Secretary of Defense were transferred to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks.

“The staffs of the Secretary of Defense and Deputy Secretary, as well as the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were notified that the transfer had occurred through regular electronic notification procedures,” Ryder said. The chief of staff of the Secretary of Defense notified the White House of Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization on January 4.

“The Chief of Staff at the Secretary of Defense is ill with the flu, which has delayed these communications. We are currently evaluating how we can improve notification procedures, including notification to the White House and Congress,” the spokesperson said. of the Pentagon.

According to him, on the afternoon of January 4, the deputy secretary and chief of staff of the secretary of defense immediately began to prepare a public statement and appeal to Congress. However, on the same day they were informed that the Minister was preparing to restore full communications and related operational duties on Friday 5 January.

“The Secretary remains hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and is recovering and in good condition,” Ryder said.

The spokesman clarified that Lloyd Austin is not in the intensive care unit, but in another part of the hospital: “He continues to feel discomfort, but the prognosis is favorable.”

The Minister of Defense has full access to operational information and can issue the necessary orders through secure communications.

“Secretary Austin has accepted responsibility for issues related to transparency (of reports about his medical condition – ed.). The Department will take steps to improve our reporting procedures,” said of the general.

At the same time, the representative of the Pentagon did not specify what was the exact reason for the intensive care of the Minister of Defense and what diagnosis he has now.

As reported, Austin was hospitalized on Monday. But the US Department of Defense announced this only on Friday, noting that he will return to work.

We remind you that former US President Donald Trump is demanding the immediate removal of Lloyd Austin from office after his hospitalization. He accused Austin of “improper professional conduct and dereliction of duty.”