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that Defense Secretary Lloyd 
Austin# 
is suffering from prostate 
canc

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Austin's doctors say it was 
detected early,# 
and his prognosis is -- quote 
-- "excellent."##

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But there remains a chorus of 
criticism# 
about why Austin withheld his 
diagnosis##

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and much of his treatment for 
so long# 
from the public and the 
president.

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Nick Schifrin has been 
following this story.

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Nick, let's start with the 
secretary's#

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doing? And why are we just 
learning# 
about this cancer diagnosis now?

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NICK SCHIFRIN: So, on your 
first question,# 
Austin's doctors say they 
expect a full recovery

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although they also said -- 
quote# 
-- "This can be a slow process."

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But there is no real answer to 
the second# 
question, and that is why

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all of this criticism that you 
just# 
referenced. And to understand 
that,##

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let's go through the timeline# 
again, as we did last night.

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In early December -- that's one 
month# 
ago -- Austin learned he had

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ca 
ncer. On December 22, he 
underwent a# 
prostatectomy, the removal of 
part or##

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all of the prostate under 
general anesthesia,# 
and transferred his authorities 
to his deputy.

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On January 1, he was admitted 
to the ICU# 
at Walter Reed with what his 
doctors would##

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diagnose as a urinary tract 
infection# 
and fluid in his abdomen. On 
January 2,##

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he again transferred his 
authorities to his# 
deputy, but didn't say why. And 
on January 4,##

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he informed the National 
Security Council# 
and his deputy about the 
hospitalization.

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And, finally, January 5, he 
makes his# 
first public statement, and at 
no point##

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during that entire process, 
Amna, did he say# 
or admit that he had prostate 
cancer. Take a

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listen to the spokespeople 
today of the Defense# 
Department and the National 
Security Council,##

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Major General Pat Ryder and 
John Kirby,# 
admitting how in the dark they 
have been.

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MAJ. GEN. PATRICK RYDER, 
Pentagon# 
Press Secretary: As soon as we 
had##

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this i

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it. We got it this afternoon 
and provided it# 
literally minutes before I

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JOHN KIRBY, NSC Coordinator 
For# 
Strategic Communications: 
Nobody##

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morning. And the president was 
informed# 
immediately after we were 
informed.

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NICK SCHIFRIN: The Pentagon has 
cited the# 
fact that Austin -- that 
Austin's chief##

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of staff had the flu for the 
reason why# 
some of the delay, but t

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an explanation for why Austin 
did not admit# 
he had cancer at any point in 
the last month.

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AMNA NAWAZ: We're so glad he# 
has an excellent prognosis.

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NICK SCHIFRIN: Yes.

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there seems to beg a lot more 
questions.

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What's been the response among 
lawmak

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NICK SCHIFRIN: Very, very

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House Armed Services Chairman 
Republican Mike# 
Rogers today launched a formal 
inquiry. He accused##

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Austin of -- quote -- 
"concealing" the fact that# 
he was incapacitated. Today, 
the top Senate Armed##

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Services Republican, Roger 
Wicker, accused Austin# 
of a -- quote -- "clear 
violation of the law."

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Even Democratic Chairman of 
the# 
Senate Armed Services 
Committee##

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Jack Reed today called for 
transparency and# 
accountability from

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AMNA NAWAZ: So, bipartisan 
criticism there.

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What's the administration 
sa

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NICK SCHIFRIN: The 
administration is releasing#

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of the concerns. The White 
House released a memo# 
obtained by "PBS NewsHour" by 
the chief of staff##

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laying out requirements for any 
Cabinet secretary# 
to inform the chief of staff as 
-- if he or she,##

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those Cabinet secretaries, are# 
unable to perform their duties.

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The Pentagon last night issued 
new# 
requirements expanding the list

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pe 
ople who have to be informed 
when the# 
secretary has to transfer his 
duties##

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and also requiring the 
disclosure of the# 
reason. Those were not required 
before. And##

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both the White House and the 
Pentagon are# 
launching reviews that will 
last 30 days.

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But congressional officials I 
talked to# 
today said that that is not 
enough and##

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there is still no answer, as we 
said, for# 
why the second in the military 
chain of##

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command withheld the fact that 
he had# 
prostate cancer for the last 
month.

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AMNA NAWAZ: Looks like we will# 
be following the story ahead.

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Nick Schifrin, thanks, as 
al

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NICK SCHIFRIN: Thanks ve