Doctor “feel good” now Freshman Congressman Ronny or “Ronnie” Jackson -the DOD-OIG report is in.
Naked wasted? Nah just super wasted while on duty and the Trump White House obstructed the DOD-OIG Investigation for nearly 11 monthsm
The long awaited nearly two year long investigation in to DOD-OIG Report, concerning Ronny or Ronnie Jackson -which you can find here - wait are you wondering why I threw out “Ronny or Ronnie” Jackson? Well let’s take a quick detour down the 2018 Memory Lane, shall we?
Now back to the newly released “scathing” Defense Department-Office of the Inspector General (DOD-OIG) report
…was a crappy manager at best. He was all over the place. Very erratic, very unpredictable.
Oh look the Trump White House interfered in the DOD-OIG investigation- how predictably adorable of the Trump Administration. Stonewall. Delay. Distract. Make threats of invoking Executive Privilege yet choking like a rabid junk-yard dog when the OIG rubber hits the road.
Due to the Trump White House hinderance by way of threatening “Executive Privilege” (but never actually invoking it), the DOD-OIG was forced to temporarily SUSPENDED their investigation. The suspension lasted for over 10 months. Why might you ask -simple answer the Trump White House decided to stonewall and at times instructed Jackson to not answer any questions from the OIG.
We suspended our fieldwork on October 11, 2018…conduct of our investigation and determine whether the President would invoke executive privilege.After a series of phone calls, e-mail exchanges, and meetings with attorneys at the Office of White House Counsel, we informed the Office of White House Counsel on August 22, 2019, of our plans to continue our investigation into the allegations against RDML Jackson.
Out of the gate - the DOD-OIG stated “the potential chilling effect of their presence would prevent us from receiving accurate testimony” the subtext of that disclosure is the DOD-OIG’s efforts to preform an exhaustive and thorough investigation which was thwarted and delayed by Trump. Classic tactic of the former administration’s self identifying as the most corrupt administration in our Country’s history.
In an effort to be fair and factual (clearly I’m not a fan of Jackson, nor have I ever pretended to be) there were several “allegations” that the DOD-OIG found as unproven - lacking any sufficient evidence to substantiate said allegations. To be clear
allegation that Jackson demanding “rum” or other alcohol to be in his hotel room(s) -the DOD-OIG found there was “no evidence to support” the allegation
allegation “he got drunk and wrecked a government vehicle - again the DOD-OIG found no evidence to support this allegation
now if I’m going to be intellectually honest this actually surprised me, the DOD-OIG DID find enough credible evidence that Jackson engaged in “inappropriate conduct” while under the influence of alcohol- but it’s the date of both substantiated incidents that surprised me, 2014 and 2016, respectively- both under the Obama Administration.
Some of you might not know how things really work in D.C. -true story I had to explain to someone what “in D.C. we stab you in the front means”- in short folks in D.C. have the chutzpah to look you in the eye when they are stabbing you. Clearly this is a graphic colloquialism. Some might find this offensive - to wit I say then you are clearly not cut out for D.C. - we call it the gd thunder-dome for a reason. Folks in D.C. will fight to the political death. So yes, by all means fact check that…I’ll wait <snort>
Although according to some I’m full of malarkey. Meh I’ve been called way worse by far greater people than the flying monkeys. I digress- where was I? That’s right “how shit really works in DC” - the moment you become a PAS nominee (that means the President of the United States nominates you to a position which requires Senate Confirmed) then your entire life history goes under a high powered microscope. It is not fun.
For Example shortly after Trump nominated Jackson as the (2nd or 3rd or 4th I genuinely lost count because Trump’s Cabinet and PAS positions had a greater than 42% churn rate) Secretary of Veterans Affairs - Ronnie Jackson’s entire public (and personal life) career met the microscope.
From April 26, 2018 thru June 7, 2018 DoD Hotline receives 12 complaints against RDML Jackson.
From a pure data standpoint the DOD-OIG interviewed 78 witnesses, each of whom served with RDML Jackson from 2012 through March 2018 about the allegations of him engaging in the following conduct towards subordinates; “screamed, yelled, cursed, or belittled” - the DOD-OIG survey says;
FACT CHECK SUPER TRUE see page 6 of the DOD-OIG report
Experienced, saw, or heard about RDML Jackson yelling, screaming, cursing, or belittling subordinates - 56 Witnesses answering in the affirmative
The DOD-OIG found that 56 out of 60 witnesses described “RDML Jackson’s behavior toward subordinates as yelling, screeching, rage, tantrums, and meltdowns” and that of the 56 witnesses “…nurses were stressed, doctors felt demoralized, and that the unit had the worst command climate they had ever experienced.”
Appendix C 1- starts on Page 23 and to be clear of the 60 witnesses only 4 had favorable things to say about Jackson - thusly 56 witnesses recalled what they personally experienced. To be fair - Jackson sounds like a Boss from Hell.
He would rage all the time… Screeching, red in the face, bug-eyed, sweating, ears red, jaw clenched…rage
I think the following witness statement is under appreciated because it might actually explain why Trump went out of his way to protect and later endorse Jackson - two peas in a crowded rancid pod
“…He was a tyrant. A true tyrant I’ve only known one tyrant. He was a tyrant.. He’s the only guy in [over 20] years that I would ever say that about.”
Good grief it appears Jackson is one foul mouthed, denigrating, short tempered “Officer” who violated not just his Hippocratic oath but his Military Oath and clearly engaged in conduct unbecoming of an officer of his rank.
Jackson’s propensity to drop the F-word in conjunction with “idiot…moron…lazy pigs” no really - I now refer you to page 25, which reads in part:
“You lazy f**kers. You can’t do anything right. All I need you to do is get some G** damn medication and you can’t even f**king do that. Get in the G** damn car and go up to Walter Reed and get it right now.”
Of the 6o witnesses interviewed concerning Jackson’s conduct (I could make a strong argument that Jackson’s conduct was unbecoming of an officer) nearly 38 witnesses made unfavorable comments concerning RDML Jackson conduct and the adverse impact on the “command climate” - cursing doesn’t bother me - anyone who knows me in real life. And God help you if you call me while I’m in “work mode” -my cussing is legendary that I’m pretty sure I could make a long haul trucker blush. But the conduct itemized by the recent DOD-OIG report is on a whole different level. Which brings us to the 10 USC Ch. 47: UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE2 (UCMJ)
What some know is the UCMJ isn’t a theoretical book of rules, specifically rules governing conduct of officers (and non commissioned officers) but it is a main tenant of all who take the solemn oath to join the Military and to serve our county with honor and integrity. Full disclosure my knowledge as it relates to the UCMJ is limited nor am I professing to be a subject matter expert, because I’m not. My limited knowledge is based on the collective 7+ decades my immediate family members who have served our County as Officers in the US Army. Of which three of my immediate family members are West Point Grads.
When the DOD-OIG report was released - I specifically asked member of my immediate family could one construct a persuasive argument that Jackson’s conduct to rise/fall under Article 133.3 the collective response was “potentially yes but it’s not that cut and dry” -moreover Article 133 is a broad range of “conduct unbecoming of an Officer and gentleman”4 which can be construed as very subjective - the “conduct” component is very broad5 and it covers a wide range of conduct - you can read more here, I found that to be an excellent source of facts.
The one portion of Article 133 is it has a direct component of “treatment towards subordinates” -this matters because from a chain of command and control this means that Jackson’s conduct could be construed as “conduct unbecoming of an officer…“ as you’ll note the DOD-OIG Report has page after page of witness statements. Yes Jackson did receive some positive statements but on the whole the scale tips towards negative comments, for example (also in Appendix C)
And because I try to be fair - below is the video statement Representative Ronny Jackson tweeted in response to the DOD-OIG blistering report. I’ll let you make your own informed opinion. Although while most assumed Trump’s frenzied firing of numerous Inspector Generals - I was never fully convinced the firing of the DOD-OIG Inspector General was 100% related to Trump’s fubar COVID-19 handling - for some reason I generally believe it may (operative word) had to do with investigation into complaints concerning Ronny Jackson
Be Well. Be Healthy. Be Informed - Filey
Appendix C - itemized comments from witnesses that were recipients of Jackson’s yelling and cursing - located on page 25 thru 29, last visited on March 3, 2021
https://media.defense.gov/2021/Mar/03/2002592287/-1/-1/1/DODIG-2021-057.PDF
USMJ, last visited March 3, 2021 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title10/subtitleA/part2/chapter47&edition=prelim
“The gravamen of Article 133, UCMJ, is ‘[a]n officer’s conduct that disgraces him personally or brings dishonor to the military profession or affects his fitness to command the obedience of his subordinates so as to successfully complete the military mission.’” Id. (quoting United States v. Forney, 67 M.J. 271, 275 (C.A.A.F. 2009)) -last visited March 3, 2021 https://www.armfor.uscourts.gov/newcaaf/opinions/2008SepTerm/05-0647.pdf
Government Printing Office, last visited March 3, 2021 - 10 U.S.C. § 933 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2011-title10/pdf/USCODE-2011-title10-subtitleA-partII-chap47-subchapX-sec933.pdf
Supreme Court of the United States of America, Case No. 19-795 - last visited March 4, 2021 - docket report https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/19-795.html
https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/19/19A441/119611/20191021133602365_App%20for%20EOT%20SCOTUS%20Combined%20final_18%20OCT%2019.pdf or USA Response to Petition https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/19/19-795/133742/20200220183619247_19-795%20Voorhees.pdf
Disgusting. May they all pay for their crimes.
Rx for this? GAH!