Watchdog says VA Secretary Robert Wilkie questioned the credibility of a House aide who reported sexual assault at hospital inquirer.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from inquirer.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Wilkie Disparaged Congressional Aide Who Alleged Sexual Assault at VA Facility, IG Probe Confirms
U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie speaks during an East Room event to announce the “PREVENTS Task Force” at the White House June 17, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
10 Dec 2020
Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie disparaged a veteran who claimed she was sexually assaulted at a VA hospital and sought to undermine her credibility, a new investigation from the department s inspector general has found. The report did not, however, substantiate reports that Wilkie actively investigated the former service member or ordered others to look into her background.
The veteran, Andrew Goldstein, works closely with Takano; she is a member of the committee staff as well as a Navy Reserve lieutenant commander. Instead of working with me to address an underlying problem at the DC VAMC from the start, Secretary Wilkie and the senior-most officials at VA went out of their way to raise suspicions and cast speculation and doubt about [the veteran] and the legitimacy of the whole incident, Takano said Thursday in reaction to the report. When the most senior leadership of VA are derelict in their duty, refuse to take immediate action to correct glaring deficiencies, and are themselves complicit in attempts to discredit and cast doubt on the facts, they betray the public trust and as a result disqualify themselves from all future public service, he added.
Inspector General Criticizes V A s Handling of Sexual Assault Complaint nytimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nytimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.