Pentagon watchdog officially launches investigation into White House doctor

The Pentagon’s inspector general has officially launched an investigation into allegations of misconduct by former physician to the president Ronny Jackson, a spokeswoman confirmed Monday.

“What I can tell you is that the [Department of Defense] Office of Inspector General has initiated an investigation into allegations related to Rear Admiral (Lower Half) Ronny L. Jackson,” inspector general spokeswoman Dwrena Allen said in a one-sentence email.

Jackson faces a slew of allegations that he drank on the job, overprescribed medications and created a hostile work environment.

The unconfirmed accusations came to light after President Trump nominated Jackson to become secretary of Veterans Affairs.

{mosads}Jackson withdrew his nomination in late April amid the allegations, which were detailed in a memo released by Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee ranking member Jon Tester (D-Mont.) that was based on interviews with 20 current and former colleagues of Jackson’s.

After Jackson withdrew, the Pentagon said documents relating to the allegations were forwarded to the inspector general to decide if further investigation warranted.

Jackson and the White House have denied the accusations, with Trump saying Democrats smeared a “great man.”

Trump’s ire has fallen particularly hard on Tester, who is facing re-election in a state Trump won. Trump called out Tester over the episode, saying, “I know things about Tester that I can say, too. And if I said them, he’d never be elected again.”

Since Jackson’s withdrawal, the White House has confirmed he is no longer serving as Trump’s personal physician, but that he remains a Navy physician assigned to the White House. 

Jackson has served as a White House physician since 2006 and had been promoted by former President Obama in 2013 to become the physician to the president.