US Defense Secretary Austin still hospitalized, Biden was not aware
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US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin is still hospitalized. There is information that the fact that the Pentagon chief was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) was kept hidden even from President Joe Biden for several days.
The Pentagon’s failure to disclose his admission to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Austin reflects a lack of transparency regarding his illness. Such secrecy is contrary to the normal behavior of the President and other senior US officials and Cabinet members when the country is facing a national security crisis.
A senior defense official said Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks was not informed until Thursday that Austin had been hospitalized since January 1. He said that after receiving this information, Hicks started planning to send a statement to Congress and return to Washington.
Hicks took leave to Puerto Rico. Officials said on the condition of confidentiality that Biden was also not informed about Austin’s hospitalization. His National Security Advisor Jack Sullivan informed him about this on Thursday.
In a statement issued Saturday evening, Austin took responsibility for the delay in providing the information. “I believe I could have done a better job of properly informing the public,” he said. But it is important to say that this was my medical procedure and I take full responsibility for my decisions not to disclose it.
Austin, 70, is still hospitalized due to health issues following a minor surgery, his press secretary said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken supported Austin at a news conference in Qatar on Sunday.
Disclaimer: IndiaTheNews has not edited this news. This news has been published from PTI-language feed.
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