Rear Adm. Brian Monahan, the attending physician for Congress, has resigned amid a Pentagon inspector-general investigation into allegations of misconduct, according to U.S. officials.
The allegations primarily focus on a toxic work environment, as well as dispensing medications to lawmakers and their staff without prescriptions and a lack of oversight of controlled substances, they said.
The Office of the Attending Physician is tasked with providing medical care to members of Congress and their staff, as well as Supreme Court justices. Monahan had held the post since 2009. The office has always been led by a Navy physician, including Monahan.
Monahan's resignation comes roughly a year after the Pentagon watchdog and the Navy opened probes into him, the officials said. Punchbowl reported earlier that Monahan had been removed from his post amid an investigation.
Details from the Pentagon investigation are expected to be released as early as Friday, one of the officials said. The Pentagon, Navy and Monahan didn't respond to requests for comment.
Monahan has kept a low profile, which is typical of the job. But he drew scrutiny during the Covid-19 pandemic, playing a central role in counseling lawmakers on rules and practices related to testing, social distancing and masks during the outbreak.
The Office of the Attending Physician was created in December 1928 after it took hours for a doctor to arrive following a House lawmaker's death and two others' collapse.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.) told reporters Thursday that it was his understanding that Monahan had resigned. He referred questions to the Senate Armed Services and Rules committees, which didn't respond to requests for comment.