Gowdy on Ronny Jackson: ‘Good Example of Reaching the Conclusion and then’ Searching for Evidence

BRENNAN: Over at the VA, there was a lot of talk this week about a personnel matter, although there are bigger issues with the agency itself.

But Dr. Ronny Jackson, who is the president's physician, was the nominee, no longer is. He's still a government employee. He's been accused of all sorts of things, allegations of handing out prescription drugs, fostering a hostile work environment, possibly drinking while on duty.

Do you think, as chairman of House Oversight, that this should require looking into?

GOWDY: I think some of those allegations do warrant being investigated.

I don't think you want members of Congress deciding whether or not the prescribing of Ambien is within the course of a professional medical practice. In fact, I can't think of anybody less well-qualified to decide whether Ambien should be prescribed than a bunch of lawyers.

So, that's a medical license issue. Hostile work environment would be some combination of the Veterans Affairs Committee and House Oversight.

But this is a pretty good example of reaching the conclusion, and then going in search of the investigation. And investigations that your viewers should have confidence in do it in the reverse order. You go gather the facts, and then you level the allegations. That's just not what is done in our political environment

BRENNAN: But there have been questions about background checks, repeated questions, with other members of the president's staff as well.

On this front, he's still the president's physician. If any of these things are true, wouldn't that warrant looking into?

GOWDY: And I would hope that it -- to the extent he has a security clearance, it should have already been investigated.

If it deals with his medical license, there's an entity that should investigate that. If it deals with a hostile work environment or things intrinsic within that office, we have an inspector general.

There are number of entities who can, within their jurisdiction, conduct an investigation. The notion that all of that should be done by Congress, particularly whether or not medicine should be prescribed, I really can't think of anybody you would less want making that decision than members of Congress.

BRENNAN: Congressman Gowdy, always good to talk to you.

GOWDY: Yes, ma'am. You too. Thank you.