“I am regretfully withdrawing my nomination to be Secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs,” Jackson said in a statement. Lawmakers grilled the embattled head of the EPA, Scott Pruitt – one of several cabinet members to be dogged by allegations of improper expenditures. The Navy rear admiral was the physician to presidents Trump, Barack Obama and George W. Bush, and was well regarded by many current and former White House staff. Senate Democrats released a litany of allegations on Wednesday, citing “conversations with 23 colleagues and former colleagues” of Jackson. These included that he handed out sleeping tablets on Air Force One, opioids to at least one White House staffer and prescribed drugs for himself.

Source: New Strait Times April 26, 2018 23:03 UTC