Ronny Jackson, former White House physician, quietly demoted to retired Navy captain following investigation
Former White House Physician Rep. Ronny Jackson Demoted by Navy
Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX), a former White House physician, faced a quiet demotion by the Navy in 2022. The report, published on Thursday, revealed that Jackson was downgraded from “retired rear admiral” to “retired captain.”
With over two decades of service in the Navy, Jackson often used his former military title while campaigning for the House. However, a Pentagon inspector general’s report found that his behavior was inappropriate for someone of his rank and status, leading to his demotion to captain.
Despite the reclassification, Jackson has continued to incorrectly use his former title in statements.
Former President Trump and Others Unaware of Demotion
Former President Donald Trump and other officials, including Jackson himself, have referred to him using the former title. It remains unclear whether they were aware of the demotion, which was not publicly announced when it occurred in July 2022.
The demotion was reported by the Washington Post, citing a defense official and a former U.S. official.
Reasons for Demotion
Jackson’s demotion was a result of several factors. He made “denigrating and sexual comments” about female subordinates in the White House medical unit, consumed an inappropriate amount of alcohol with subordinates, and used the sleep drug Ambien while serving as the White House physician. These substantiated allegations led to the administrative action taken by the Secretary of the Navy in July 2022.
Navy officers are held to a higher standard than regular government employees and sailors.
Impact of Demotion
In addition to losing his rank, the demotion also resulted in a pension cut of approximately $15,000 per year for Jackson. Katherine Kuzminski, a military policy expert, deemed Jackson’s self-reference as a “retired rear admiral” inappropriate.
Despite the demotion, Jackson’s reputation during his time at the White House earned him friendships with presidents from both parties. His friendship with Trump played a significant role in his election to the House, and Trump had attempted to promote him to a two-star admiral and appoint him as secretary of Veterans Affairs.
However, the backlash over his nomination for a Cabinet position prompted investigations by the Pentagon’s inspector general and a whistleblower report.
While Jackson has not commented on the demotion, he previously claimed that the investigations against him were politically motivated.
Click here to read more from the Washington Examiner.
How did allegations of misconduct impact Dr. Jackson’s nomination for the Department of Veterans Affairs?
Resident Trump’s Physician
Prior to his career in politics, Jackson gained recognition as the physician to former President Donald Trump. Serving as the presidential physician from 2013 to 2018, he gained prominence in the public eye by providing updates on the President’s health and conducting physical exams. However, his time in the White House was not without controversy. In 2018, he was nominated by President Trump to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, but his nomination was quickly withdrawn after allegations of misconduct surfaced. These allegations included claims of a toxic work environment, excessive drinking, and prescribing medications without proper documentation. Jackson vehemently denied these allegations but ultimately withdrew his nomination in order to prevent further damage to the Trump administration. After leaving his post as the White House physician, Jackson made a successful bid for Congress, representing Texas’s 13th congressional district. He campaigned on his military background and his close relationship with President Trump, leveraging his former military rank to gain support from voters. However, the recent report from the Pentagon’s inspector general sheds light on the discrepancy between Jackson’s behavior and the rank he had been using. The report found that his conduct was unbecoming of an officer with the rank of “retired rear admiral.” As a result, he was officially downgraded to the rank of “retired captain.” While this may seem like a minor change, it is significant for someone like Jackson who has built his political career on his military credentials. The demotion raises questions about his integrity and judgment, particularly when it comes to accurately representing his military background. Despite the demotion, Jackson has not stopped using his former military title. In statements and campaign materials, he continues to refer to himself as “retired rear admiral.” This raises concerns about his honesty and sincerity, as he is clearly aware of his new rank but chooses to ignore it for political gain. Furthermore, Jackson’s misrepresentation of his military rank undermines the respect and honor that should be associated with such positions. It diminishes the achievements and sacrifices of those who have genuinely earned and maintained the rank of rear admiral. It also raises doubts about his ability to uphold the values and standards of the military community. The demotion of former White House physician Rep. Ronny Jackson by the Navy is a significant development in his political career. It brings into question his integrity, judgment, and ability to accurately represent himself to the public. His continued misuse of his former military title further compounds these concerns. As a representative, it is essential for Jackson to uphold the values and standards that the military community holds dear. His actions, however, suggest that he may not be living up to these expectations.Downgraded Military Rank
Continued Misrepresentation
Conclusion
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