Congress committee to investigate Austin over secret hospitalization
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The US House Armed Services summoned the US Defense Secretary to question him regarding his decision to conceal his hospitalization from the US president and other authorities.
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US President Joe Biden, left, speaks to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin after delivering the State of the Union address at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, February 7, 2023. (AP)
Turmoil regarding US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's secret hospitilzation earlier this month is still brewing in the United States, with many questions asked by officials and the public still unanswered.
In the latest measure to address the event, US House Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers demanded in a letter on Thursday that Austin appear before the House panel for a testimony to discuss his lack of transparency on the issue.
Read more: White House to review protocols after Austin's secret hospital stay
"Your unwillingness to provide candid and complete answers necessitates calling a Full Committee hearing on February 14, 2024, where the Committee expects to hear your direct testimony regarding decisions made to withhold information from the President, Congress, and the American people," the letter read.
The chairman pointed out that the defense secretary responded to some of his inquiries, but left others unanswered. Rogers said that Austin's refusal to answer on whether his staff were instructed to hide the information from Presiden Joe Biden or others was "alarming."
A written response to further questions on the matter is expected to be provided by February 7, Rogers said.
Austin not yet back in office
Austin was hospitalized in early January due to complications following a prostate cancer surgery in late December, and is yet to go back to office.
Officials stated that although his infection has disappeared and he is still moving toward a full recovery, the process might take some time. The Pentagon chief kept Biden and the public in the dark about his illness on New Year's Day for many days until admitting to "full responsibility" for the cover-up on January 6.
His failure to notify relevent authorities of his health state propmted a Pentagon Inspector General probe and bipartisan calls for him to resign from his position.
A former DOD official called the concealment a "next-level problem", adding that "someone made the decision not to disclose. That person will likely be gone shortly.”
However, a White House source told Reuters last week that Biden is not considering terminating Austin.
