White House Director of Strategic Communications Mercedes Schlapp said the president’s pick to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, Dr. Ronny Jackson, is being “dragged through the mud” with allegations of improper workplace behavior. Schlapp said on “Fox News at Night” that any allegations against U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Jackson are false and noted that he hasn’t been a target of an Inspector General report. A 2012 watchdog report claimed that Jackson showed “unprofessional behaviors” as White House physician, although documents provided to Fox News show that he received high praise from former president Barack Obama.

“We’ve seen Democrats and Republicans come out in favor of Ronny Jackson,” Schlapp said. Jackson’s confirmation hearing by the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee was postponed after news of the report broke. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) blamed an improper vetting process for why Jackson received the nomination from the president, despite the allegations.”I just think it’s unfortunate that what we’re seeing in these confirmation processes are these very qualified, honorable individuals being dragged through the mud. That needs to stop,” Schlapp told Shannon Bream.

At an appearance with French President Emmanuel Macron Tuesday, Trump defended Jackson, vowing to stand by his nominee through potentially difficult confirmation hearings. He said it would be Jackson’s decision on whether to continue through the process. If I were him…I wouldn’t do it,” he said.”I don’t want to put a man through a process like this. It’s too ugly and too disgusting, so we’ll see what happens.