U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) sent a letter to Acting Director of the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System raising concerns about allegations that managers and supervisors at the Tucson VA have been interfering in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Inspector General (IG) investigation into reports of poor care, unclean facilities and equipment, and whistleblower retaliation. Senator McCain was the first lawmaker to call for an IG investigation following reports of wrongdoing at the Tucson VA.
In the letter, Senator McCain urges the Acting Director to immediately look into allegations of interference; take additional steps to ensure that direct management and supervisory staff at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System refrain from attending any IG interviews, depositions or debriefings of employees during the course of this investigation; and direct the IG to re-interview any employees who were interviewed in the presence of VA management.
Senator McCain also released the following statement:
“I am extremely troubled by allegations that supervisors and managers at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System in Tucson may have potentially interfered in the IG investigation I called for in February,” said Senator McCain. “If true, the leaders at the Tucson VA must take appropriate actions to ensure an objective investigation is completed as soon as possible. It’s critical that both the IG and VA Secretary Robert McDonald ensure they are receiving candid assessments from VA employees and patients, while also independently verifying reports, so they can get rid-out any potential wrongdoing in Tucson.”
The letter:
April 20, 2016
Ms. Jennifer S. Gutowski
Acting Director, Southern Arizona VA Health Care System
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
3601 S 6th Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85723
Dear Ms. Gutowski:
I write regarding several allegations recently brought to my attention that, during the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of the Inspector General’s (IG) pending investigation of mismanagement at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, IG staff have been interviewing whistleblower-employees in the presence of senior managers and other key officials. As you may know, I called for this investigation in February of this year after I learned of potential cases of denied care for veterans, unclean medical facilities and equipment, and whistleblower retaliation.
If true, these allegations would be troubling. The presence of senior managers and other key officials in such interviews discourages candid testimony; will not result in reliable record evidence that will support sound findings of fact, conclusions of law, policy recommendations or adverse administrative action against those found to have done wrong; and will fail to engender confidence in the IG’s final report of investigation. For these reasons, I ask you to look into these allegations and determine their veracity. If you find that they are indeed true, I urge you to take the following action:
1) Direct management and supervisory staff with the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System to refrain from attending any IG interviews, depositions or debriefings of Southern Arizona VA Health Care System employees during the course of this investigation; and
2) Direct IG to re-interview—without supervisory and management staff present—any employee already interviewed in their presence.
In all cases, I ask that you help ensure that employees at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System are aware of their rights as whistleblower, if they choose to bring to the IG’s attention any information regarding waste, fraud or abuse relevant to the IG’s pending investigation. I look forward to your timely response to this letter and any actions you have taken in response.
Sincerely,
John McCain
United States Senator
cc:
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald
Deputy Inspector General of Veterans Affairs Linda Halliday