VA Caught Red-Handed After Booby Trap For Investigators Blew Up In Their Face

"...there was no attempt to deny that it had occurred.”

---

B. Christopher Agee — July 16, 2014

As the Department of Veterans Affairs deals with heavy criticism regarding inordinate wait times at its medical facilities, an ensuing investigation seeks to determine how many veterans have died as a result. Furthermore, the agency has been accused of attempting to hide its actions through dishonest record-keeping.
Adding another wrinkle to the still-developing scandal, recent reports reveal an interagency plot to spy on those tasked with investigating it.

THE V.A. SCANDAL ISN’T GOING AWAY. IT’S GETTING WORSE. Veterans Affairs stonewalls, spies o… http://t.co/GNRWz9rlXp via @instapundit
— Instapundit.com (@instapundit) July 16, 2014

Jeff Miller, who chairs the House Veterans Affairs Committee, levied the shocking allegation during a radio interview this week. The Republican congressman recalled some suspicious requests that took place during his staffers’ attempt to look into complaints at a Veterans Benefits Administration office. The investigators were repeatedly compelled to take their private meetings to a specific room, Miller confirmed. Even after a VA employee explained the room was not needed, the acting director of the VBA allegedly continued to push the issue. Ultimately, the congressman claimed, his staffers entered the room to find it set up to record their every action.

Out Of Control! Veterans Affairs spies, stonewalls on people investigating it http://t.co/0eZSJi8vTD #VAscandal
— Chris Coon (@Coondawg68) July 16, 2014

“In that room,” he said, “both of the mics were hot and the camera itself was activated.”
At that point, Miller said his staff emphatically opposed working in that room and requested different provisions. After continued back-and-forth between investigators and VBA staff, Miller’s staff was eventually given access to another room.
Miller concluded that Allison Hickey, the VA’s undersecretary for benefits, was subsequently asked about the incident.
He noted that “there was no attempt to deny that it had occurred.”