Keeping Them Honest: Will Shinseki's resignation help fix problems at the VA?
After AC360 spent months reporting on the problems at VA hospitals across the country, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki is resigning. President Obama made the announcement today, saying Shinseki did not want to be a distraction. But there are serious questions about what it will take to get America's veterans the care they need and deserve. Drew Griffin takes a look at the events that led to today's resignation.
Anderson looked at what needs to be done to fix the problems at the VA with Congressman Jeff Miller who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and Dr. Sam Foote, who blew the whistle on problems at the Phoenix VA hospital.
Rep. Miller speaks out about VA Secretary Shinseki's testimony
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki testified today at his first congressional hearing since AC360's reports about allegations patients died while waiting for care got national attention. Shinseki testified to the Senate Veterans Affairs' Committee that he was cooperating fully with the investigation and he was reviewing all VA operations.
Chairman of the House committee on Veterans' Affairs, Rep. Jeff Miller, talked to Anderson about the Secretary's congressional testimony. "The Secretary did an absolutely abysmal job of trying to reinstill faith and confidence in a very broken system." Rep. Miller told Anderson, "They are cooking the books," and that he is "less convinced" of the VA leadership's appropriateness after the testimony.
Rep. Miller says he doesn't "have faith that the department is able to do what it needs to do to correct the course that it’s on," and suggested an independent group rather than the government agency should be in charge of the investigation.
VA Secretary Shinseki breaks his silence
AC360 has been reporting on allegations of veterans dying while waiting for care at VA hospitals. Drew Griffin spoke with a doctor who claimed one hospital was even keeping a secret waiting list. For the past six months, AC360's Drew Griffin has repeatedly asked Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to talk about the allegations. This week two veterans groups, including the American Legion, and two U.S. senators called on Shinseki to resign. Now he's breaking his silence, but he is still not speaking with Drew.
New calls for VA Secretary Shinseki's resignation
Two U.S. Senators are now calling for Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki's resignation. This comes a day after the American Legion, the nation's largest veterans group, called on Shinseki to step down. It follows Senior Investigative Correspondent Drew Griffin's reports on allegations of vets dying while waiting for care from VA hospitals. Drew has the latest from Washington where he is Keeping Them Honest.
American Legion calls for Secy. Shinseki to resign
For the first time in nearly three decades, the American Legion is calling on a public official to resign. It is America's largest veterans group, and the National Commander of the American Legion aimed a scathing op-ed at Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary, Eric Shinseki. This follows Senior Investigative Correspondent Drew Griffin's reporting on allegations that dozens of vets died while waiting for care at a Phoenix VA Hospital. Drew spoke to a retired doctor who says that hospital kept separate sets of records to hide the long waits. Now there are new concerns that these alleged secret waiting lists may be more widespread than originally thought. Drew Griffin is Keeping Them Honest.
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