WASHINGTON – Minnesota's 10 members of Congress on Tuesday collectively asked for a meeting with Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald to talk about recent reports of falsified records at the Minneapolis Veterans Medical Center.
The request comes after a former 25-year-old corporal, Jordan Buisman, was told he'd have to wait almost 70 days to see a specialist at the Minneapolis VA neurology clinic for his severe epilepsy, which was the reason he left the Marine Corps. He died 24 days before his appointment. Four days later someone wrote in his VA records that Buisman had canceled his neurology appointment. The story was first reported by KARE-TV.
The VA Inspector General's office is investigating allegations of falsified records and manipulation with scheduling data.
Minnesota's congressional delegation, which spans the political spectrum, seldom speaks with one voice but came together to request the meeting with Secretary McDonald once the Inspector General's office releases its findings. Democratic Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar were joined by Democratic Reps. Tim Walz, Betty McCollum, Keith Ellison, Collin Peterson and Rick Nolan, along with Republican Reps. John Kline, Erik Paulsen and Michele Bachmann.
"We are deeply troubled by serious allegations of falsified records and manipulation of scheduling data at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs VA Health Care System," the delegation wrote.
Klobuchar's office said Tuesday there was no time frame for the Inspector General investigation.
VA Secretary McDonald, who was just sworn in a couple of months ago, said over the weekend in a speech in Cincinnati that, "we know we have to work harder to earn that trust back, one veteran at a time."
Allison Sherry • 202-383-6120
