Senator Kirk Statement on DOJ Decision That Could Reinstate VA Official Fired After Phoenix VA Scandal

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, released the following statement after Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) decision to ignore a key provision of the Veterans Affairs reform law, which could put the former head of the Phoenix VA back in charge:

“Before Sharon Helman was shipped to Phoenix as part of the corrupt VA game of musical chairs, she was in charge at Hines where secret wait lists left veterans waiting for months to get care. If you are part of the culture of corruption that hurts our veterans, you don’t keep your job. This action by the DOJ is a slap in the face to all the veterans who lost their lives waiting in lines while employees like Helman, who should be in prison, collected their bonuses.”