The U.S House of Representatives armed services committee has summoned ailing U.S Defense Secretary lloyd Austin to explain the reason why he did not disclose his recent hospitalisation, even to President Joe Biden.
The committee chairman Mike Rogers fixed February 14 for the hearing.
In a letter addressed to Austin, Rogers said congress was eager to understand what happened and who made decisions to prevent the disclosure of the whereabouts of a cabinet secretary.
Austin was admitted to the Walter reed National Military medical center since the beginning of the year where he was getting treatment for prostate cancer.
However, he may have flouted due process since he did not immediately communicate this to the pentagon and white house, prompting criticism over Austin’s lack of transparency.
