The Biden administration has made a big mistake. Now it’s coming back to haunt them.
Because a U.S. Senator sent Joe Biden a real threat that has all of D.C. on notice.
With a statement released on Monday, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee voiced concerns about the defense secretary’s mysterious absence. This broke the senator’s three-day hush approach to defense secretary Austin’s hospitalization, during which calls for accountability were growing elsewhere.
While Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was hospitalized, his condition remained a closely guarded secret from his deputy and senior White House officials. Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, who chairs the Senate Armed Services committee, expressed grave concerns regarding the leadership within the Department of Defense (DOD) during this time. Despite the Pentagon informing Congress of Austin’s situation on Friday, Reed did not make a public statement regarding the event until Monday afternoon. “This lack of disclosure must never happen again,” Reed declared in the public statement.
“I remain concerned that vital chain of command and notification procedures were not followed while the secretary was under medical care. He is taking responsibility for the situation, but this was a serious incident and there needs to be transparency and accountability from the Department,” he added.
SASC Chairman @SenJackReed today issued the following statement regarding Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III's recent hospitalization: pic.twitter.com/UQq1IFtRsY
— Senate Armed Services Committee (@SASCDems) January 8, 2024
The Wall Street Journal stated on Sunday that top Democrats, including Reed, had first chosen not to respond. Reed informed the Pentagon that he was keeping tabs on the matter and expressed his wish to learn any pertinent facts regarding the event.
Some Republicans have called for terminations because of the secrecy, while some Democrats are staying hum. While on vacation, Defense Department Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks covered for Secretary Austin in the hospital, handling some of the secretary’s responsibilities. Except for President Joe Biden and Kathleen Hicks, no one in the White House knew until three days after Austin was brought to the ICU.
U.S. Senator Reed told his home state’s CBS affiliate that Austin shouldn’t step down.
At this time, the majority of the remaining committee Democrats are choosing to remain silent on this issue.
Washington Democrat Adam Smith and Alabama Republican Mike Rogers released a joint statement on Sunday demanding accountability. Smith and Rogers are ranking members of the House Armed Services Committee.
The two expressed their concerns over the handling of Sec. Austin’s health disclosure, while wishing him a swift recovery. “Transparency is vitally important. Sec. Austin must provide these additional details on his health and the decision-making process that occurred in the past week as soon as possible,” they said.
According to Politico, Virginia Democrat Gerry Connolly criticized the defense secretary’s oversight while the United States dealt with global crises. However, Connolly stated that it was too soon to decide if Austin should step down.
He warned that “he has some explaining to do” after his recovery from the hospital. “This is not an acceptable situation for one of the most senior Cabinet-level responsibilities, and given what’s going on around the world.”
“It is a complicated world, there are wars going on, we have engaged in hostile action to take out a terrorist leader. The secretary of defense cannot go missing and cannot go missing unexplained,” he noted.
Republicans such as New York House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, and Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton have all demanded that Austin resign.
🚨NEW: @JDVance1 calls for Defense Secretary Austin to resign
“He absolutely should resign. He should be fired by the President…The engine is running, but nobody’s behind the wheel. That’s the story of the Biden admin at a time of chaos for the United States across the world.” pic.twitter.com/TyBx5LiCo1
— Senator Vance Press Office (@SenVancePress) January 8, 2024
This bad press comes at a bad time for Joe Biden as he seeks to maintain trust in the public view heading into the general election season this summer.
As everyone knows, his approval ratings are downright abysmal. He can’t take too much more bad press as the American public is already highly skeptical about his ability to return for a second term in the White House.
It makes you wonder if there’s any validity to the idea that the Democrats could pull the plug on the Biden campaign at the last minute.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
