White House doctor withdraws as VA secretary nominee, says allegations against him ‘fabricated’

White House doctor Ronny Jackson is withdrawing from consideration as Veterans Affairs secretary, AP reported. Jackson has said “false allegations” against him have become a distraction. In a statement the White House sent out from Jackson on Thursday morning, he says he “did not expect to have to dignify baseless and anonymous attacks on my character and integrity.” Jackson has faced a series of accusations about his workplace conduct, including that he recklessly prescribed drugs and exhibited drunken behavior. Trump chose Jackson to head the VA last month after abruptly firing Obama administration official David Shulkin. The VA has 360,000 employees serving 9 million veterans.