WASHINGTON, Jan. 11. Pentagon Inspector General Robert Storch said that he plans to begin an investigation in January into the circumstances of the hospitalization of US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
An earlier investigation into the circumstances of the hospitalization of Pentagon head Austin was launched by the Armed Services Committee of the US House of Representatives. The Pentagon has also launched an internal review of how Austin delegated authority to his deputy, Catherine Hicks.
The purpose of the investigation, the statement said, will be «to examine the roles, processes, procedures, responsibilities and actions related to the Secretary of Defense's hospitalization.»< br>
It is also necessary to assess the sufficiency of information and the timeliness of the transfer of authority due to health problems. The inspector asked for a contact person to carry out the inspection within five days.
On Tuesday, the Pentagon released a statement from doctors according to which Austin, whose unscheduled hospitalization provoked a scandal in the American government, suffers from prostate cancer.
December 22, 2023 year, after consulting with a team of doctors, Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and underwent an invasive surgical procedure called prostatectomy to treat prostate cancer. During this procedure, Austin was under general anesthesia.
After the operation, the Pentagon chief returned home, but on January 1, 2024, he was hospitalized at the same institution due to complications after the operation. The initial examination revealed he had a urinary tract infection. Austin was admitted to the intensive care unit for close monitoring. During the minister's stay in the hospital, his condition gradually improved, and now doctors expect him to make a full recovery.