WEBVTT

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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