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 Common 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 sick. Additionally, Ryder says Austin, who stays at Walter Reed Nationwide Navy Medical Heart in Bethesda, Maryland, overstayed his time within the ICU due to area 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 sick on New 12 months’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 Heart however is recovering nicely and in good spirits.
Since resuming his duties on Friday night, the Secretary has acquired operational updates and has offered mandatory steerage to his crew. He has full entry to required safe communications capabilities and continues to watch DoD’s day-to-day operations worldwide.
The Secretary spoke to President Biden yesterday. He has additionally been involved with Deputy Secretary of Protection Kathleen Hicks, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. and his senior workers.
Whereas we should not have a selected date for his launch right now, we are going to proceed to supply updates on the Secretary’s standing as they grow to be accessible.
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 Defense Lloyd J. Austin III underwent an elective medical procedure at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He was on leave at the time. He returned home 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 Heart the place he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit,” Ryder instructed ABC…3/3 “For privacy reasons, we’re not able to provide additional information. He was placed in the hospital’s intensive care unit to ensure immediate access to due to his medical needs, but then remained in that location in part due to hospital space considerations and privacy.”
1/3“On Friday, December 22, Secretary of Protection Lloyd J. Austin III underwent an elective medical process at Walter Reed Nationwide Navy Medical Heart. 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 privacy reasons, we’re not able to provide additional information. He was placed in the hospital’s intensive care unit to ensure immediate access to due to his medical needs, but then remained in that location in part due to hospital space considerations and privacy,”
— luis martinez (@LMartinezABC) January 7, 2024
CBS Information’ Eleanor Watson, “New details on Defense Secretary Austin’s hospitalization, per @PentagonPresSec:- Dec 22 – Austin had an elective medical procedure at Walter Reed. – Dec 23 – he returned home- Jan 1 – he began experiencing severe pain, was transported to Walter Reed and admitted to ICU…He was admitted to the ICU for both his medical needs and privacy. The delay in notifying the White House and the deputy secretary is because Austin’s chief of staff had an illness.”
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 Common 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 realized about Austin’s sickness from press studies Friday night time.
Different Pentagon officers have been lied to by Austin’s workers over the week, being instructed he was working at dwelling, reported Politico (excerpt):
“But Austin’s hospitalization was a closely guarded secret, kept from even senior Pentagon officials and congressional leaders until just before the public statement, according to nine DOD officials and two congressional aides. Some Pentagon officials only learned of Austin’s situation through Ryder’s news release. One of the DOD officials said their office was told by Austin’s aides that the secretary was working from home for the week.”
Earlier TGP studies on Austin’s secret hospital keep:
DEVELOPING: Lloyd Austin Health Scare More Dire Than Pentagon Admits
