"President Joe Biden is not considering firing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin after he did not tell the White House about his emergency hospitalization, four senior administration officials told POLITICO.

Beyond that, one official noted, the president would not accept a resignation if Austin were to offer one."

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/08/biden-austin-resignation-00134280

"Weeks before the 2020 presidential election, infamous political operative Roger Stone sat across from his associate Sal Greco at a restaurant in Florida.

At the time, Greco was an NYPD cop working security for Stone on the side. Their conversation, at Caffe Europa in Fort Lauderdale, focused on two House Democrats for whom Stone harbors particular animosity, Jerry Nadler and Eric Swalwell.

In audio of the conversation obtained exclusively by Mediaite, Stone made threatening comments about the two lawmakers.

“It’s time to do it,” Stone told Greco. “Let’s go find Swalwell. It’s time to do it. Then we’ll see how brave the rest of them are. It’s time to do it. It’s either Nadler or Swalwell has to die before the election. They need to get the message. Let’s go find Swalwell and get this over with. I’m just not putting up with this shit anymore.”

A source familiar with the discussion told Mediate they believed Stone’s remarks were serious. “It was definitely concerning that he was constantly planning violence with an NYPD officer and other militia groups,” the source said."

https://www.mediaite.com/politics/exclusive-roger-stone-spoke-with-cop-pal-about-assassinating-eric-swalwell-and-jerry-nadler/

"Austin, 70 years old, first underwent what military officials described as “elective medical procedure” at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Dec. 22 and remained there until the following day. During that time, Austin’s deputy, Kath Hicks, assumed some duties on his behalf. But Pentagon officials never informed the White House of that initial medical procedure, the Pentagon said Monday.

Then, on Jan. 1, Austin experienced “severe pain” from complications from that procedure and was rushed in an ambulance back to Walter Reed, where he was admitted into the intensive care unit. That prompted the current questions about why he didn’t inform the White House, Congress or the public until three days later. He has remained at Walter Reed since."

https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/biden-backs-defense-chief-austin-wont-take-resignation-if-offered-c6c39c1a