President Trump on Thursday pardoned a former Army officer who was convicted by a military court martial for refusing to follow the Pentagon’s COVID-19 safety rules.

The Sunday afternoon announcement came just weeks after Austin was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December and hospitalized for a procedure.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin returned to the Pentagon on Monday, nearly a month after his secret hospitalization on Jan. 1 that he kept from his colleagues – and President Biden – for days.

Lloyd Austin testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing to be the next Secretary of Defense on January 19, 2021, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jim Lo ...

Why was Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hospitalized? What complications does he face? Here’s what you need to know.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is making clear he wants to keep the military’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate in place to protect the health of the troops.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Monday he has tested positive for COVID-19, is experiencing mild symptoms and will quarantine at home.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Monday that he has again tested positive for coronavirus.

Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, shown last week, is experiencing mild COVID-19 symptoms and will quarantine for the next five days.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Monday that he has tested positive for coronavirus for the second time and will work from home for the week.

Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, shown last week, is experiencing mild COVID-19 symptoms and will quarantine for the next five days. (Roman Koksarov / Associated Press) ...