Ashton Carter, President Barack Obama’s nominee for secretary of Defense, successfully underwent back surgery, according to White House press secretary Josh Earnest.
Here’s the statement from Earnest, relayed by the White House pool report:
Today, Ash Carter, President Obama’s nominee to be the next Secretary of Defense, successfully underwent a long-planned surgical procedure on his back. Mr. Carter decided to go ahead with the previously scheduled procedure so that he could complete it before beginning his confirmation process. Mr. Carter is resting comfortably with his family and is looking forward to confirmation process and if confirmed, to serving with the men and women of the Defense Department.
Earlier in December news broke that Obama would nominate Carter to replace Chuck Hagel as secretary of Defense.
