President Donald Trump has tapped his former VA Secretary nominee Ronny Jackson to be promoted to a two-star admiral and named his chief medical adviser, despite an ongoing Pentagon investigation into allegations against Jackson.
Relatedly, Trump’s medical examination is slated for Friday. Jackson performed last year’s and gave the President a glowing report, despite Trump’s well-documented affinity for junk food.
According to a Sunday Washington Post report, the White House is re-upping an old promotion request for Jackson, since Trump has always liked Jackson and thinks he was smeared during the VA secretary confirmation process. Administration officials submitted the request to the Senate on January 15.
Jackson’s nomination went up in flames last April when Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) released a summary of accusations against him, ranging from irresponsible pill distribution to drunkenness on the job.