The U.S. Department of Justice should investigate allegations that delays in health care at military veterans hospitals were covered up, lawmakers from both political parties said today. <\/p>\n
Only the Department of Justice and the FBI have the resources, the expertise and the authority to do a prompt and effective criminal investigation of the secret waiting lists, potential destruction of documents, falsification of records -- in effect, the cooking of books and covering up that may have occurred, Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat who sits on the Veterans Affairs Committee, said on CBSs Face the Nation program. <\/p>\n
A Justice Department investigation would provide an outside independent authority that can offer accountability and the perception of accountability, said Blumenthal, a former federal prosecutor and state attorney general. <\/p>\n
The Department of Veterans Affairs inspector general is investigating reports that some hospitals kept phony waiting lists designed to hide lengthy delays in providing health care. <\/p>\n
President Barack Obama last week promised to punish any officials responsible for covering up delays while saying Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki will keep his job for now, amid calls that he be fired. <\/p>\n
The Department of Justice needs to get involved in this, Representative Adam Kinzinger, an Illinois Republican and Iraq war veteran, said on CBS. The president has got to show some intense outrage. <\/p>\n
Blumenthal said that hes urged Shinseki publicly and privately to request a Justice Department investigation. <\/p>\n
The Veterans Affairs department may need more funding after enrolling 2 million veterans in its system since 2009 and setting an ambitious goal of scheduling appointments within 14 days, said Senate Veterans Affairs Chairman Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent. <\/p>\n
At the end of the day, when you have 2 million new veterans coming in to the system, some with very difficult and complicated problems, I do think we have to take a hard look and see if we have the resources, Sanders said on CNNs State of the Union program. <\/p>\n
Representative Jeff Miller, a Florida Republican who is chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said problems plaguing the veterans health-care system are an issue of manipulation and mismanagement. <\/p>\n
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Lawmakers Urge Justice Department Probe of VA Health-Care Delays<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The U.S. Department of Justice should investigate allegations that delays in health care at military veterans hospitals were covered up, lawmakers from both political parties said today. Continue reading