Republican Rep. Ronny Jackson of Texas, a former White House physician, announced Wednesday that the Navy has restored his retired rank of rear admiral, overturning a 2022 demotion that followed a scathing investigation into his behavior during his time at the White House.
According to CBS:
“Following his 2019 retirement from the Navy, Jackson was retroactively demoted after a yearslong investigation into his behavior. A report by the Pentagon’s inspector general found that he made “sexual and denigrating” comments about a female subordinate, violated the policy on drinking alcohol on a presidential trip, and took prescription-strength sleeping medication that prompted worries from his colleagues about his ability to provide proper medical care. Jackson has denied the allegations and claimed he was subject to a “political hit job”
“The decision to restore Jackson’s rank comes as the Pentagon is becoming increasingly transparent in offering benefits and consideration to Mr. Trump’s supporters. At the same time, those who are seen as disloyal have been punished. Two weeks ago, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, who oversaw the intelligence agency that produced an initial intelligence assessment of U.S. damage to Iranian nuclear sites that angered Trump. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has considered expediting the process to reinstate former service members who were discharged for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine, sources told CBS News last week.” (CBS)