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VP Pence’s Personal Physician Resigns Days After Casting Doubt On Ronny Jackson

Virginia Kruta Associate Editor
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Vice President Mike Pence’s personal physician Jennifer Peña has resigned in the wake of the controversy surrounding the nomination and subsequent withdrawal of Admiral Dr. Ronny Jackson to head the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Pence’s spokeswoman Alyssa Farah issued a statement confirming Pena’s resignation on Friday morning.

“The Vice President’s office was informed today by the White House Medical Unit of the resignation. Physicians assigned to the Vice President report to the White House Medical Unit and thus any resignation would go entirely through the Medical Unit, not the Vice President’s office.”

Peña had claimed in a series of memos that Jackson’s behavior had raised concerns, stating that he had intimidated her and that he may have compromised private health information about second lady Karen Pence.

Peña’s memos, added to a series of accusations compiled and released by Democratic Montana Sen. Jon Tester, were enough to raise questions about Adm. Jackson’s qualifications. Jackson, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, withdrew his nomination.

According to Politico’s report, however, some in the White House believed Peña’s allegations to be deliberately overblown and designed to hurt Jackson.