Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday apologized for his secretive hospitalization in early January, admitting he “did not handle this right,” amid questions about his failure to notify administration officials of the hospital stay.
Austin appeared in the Pentagon press briefing room for the first time since his hospitalization to answer questions from reporters about the scandal.
The Pentagon chief said he never directed his staff to keep secret the hospitalization at Maryland’s Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, but acknowledged his failure to notify.
“I want to be crystal clear. We did not handle this right. I did not handle this right. I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis,” Austin said. “I should have also told my team and the American public, and I take full responsibility. I apologize to my teammates and to the American people.”
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