Posted 1/10/2024, 8:34:00 PM
Pentagon Kept Leaders in the Dark on Austin Hospitalization
- Secretary Austin's chief of staff knew of his hospitalization but did not promptly inform the Deputy Defense Secretary
- Austin's military assistant notified the Deputy's office of the transfer of authority on Jan. 2
- On Jan. 4, Austin's chief of staff told the Deputy's chief of staff that Austin had been hospitalized
- President Biden did not learn of Austin's prostate cancer and hospitalization until Jan. 10, over a month after the diagnosis
- The Defense Department initially said Austin was hospitalized for an "elective medical procedure," not prostate surgery