LISTEN TO TLR’S LATEST PODCAST: By Will Racke The former director of the Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital in Phoenix, who was dismissed amid a scandal over delayed care, must be given a chance to contest her firing before a government panel, a federal court ruled Tuesday. The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit said a provision…
LISTEN TO TLR’S LATEST PODCAST: By Steve Birr Theft of prescription opioids from hospitals under the direction of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is skyrocketing and risking the treatment of wounded soldiers. Federal investigators are increasing efforts to crack down on the theft of prescription painkillers for personal use or sale by VA employees….
By Jonah Bennett In a stunning release, a federal agency confirmed a Phoenix Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) whistleblower’s claims that on an average day at the facility, 1,100 patients are waiting longer than 30 days for care. The Office of Special Counsel (OSC), the agency that protects whistleblowers, released a statement Tuesday noting that…
By Luke Rosiak An Illinois veteran in distress called the Department of Veterans Affairs’ suicide hotline in July 2015, but no one picked up. So, he laid down on nearby train tracks and waited for death. The body of 30-year old Thomas Young was found July 23, 2015 after being struck by a Metra train outside…
Luke Rosiak Christmas came early this week for one of the naughtiest of former Department of Veterans Affairs employees, when VA’s official watchdog spared him the embarrassment of a damning official report about his illegal conduct from being made public. The nearly 300-page report describes how the Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General’s former top…
Jonah Bennett A therapist at the Phoenix VA medical center is apologizing for dressing up like whistleblower Brandon Coleman, who is also a disabled veteran. Therapist Jeremy Pottle, along with his supervisor Lisa Benner, were both suspended after hospital leadership became aware Pottle’s costume and the fact Benner allowed him to wear it all day…
Jonah Bennett Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald has a policy of handing out his cell phone number if veterans need to get a hold of him. Here’s what happened when Fox and Friends decided to test that claim. When hosts on the Fox News show called McDonald’s number live on the air Thursday, they found…
Jonah Bennett A leaked video shows staff at the Department of Veterans Affairs facility in Tomah playing a human version of the ‘Hungry, Hungry Hippo’s game for Halloween during work hours. The day of carnival games took place Oct. 30, according to the blog Disabled Veterans. The video shows employees scrambling in a bizarre frenzy to…
Jonah Bennett Two senior officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs have pleaded the Fifth Amendment in front of a House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing on relocation bonus corruption to avoid self-incrimination. Philadelphia and Wilmington VA regional offices director Diana Rubens and St. Paul VA regional office director Kimberly Graves pleaded the Fifth and refused to…