Cornyn: FBI should investigate VA

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) called on President Obama to direct the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) to look into reports of “scheduling schemes” in the claims process of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

“This is a sad day for our nation and the only fitting response in the short-term is for the president to direct the FBI to investigate these reports immediately,” Cornyn said Wednesday.

{mosads}Cornyn’s comment came after the release of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of Inspector General’s preliminary report investigating allegations of negligence and secret waiting lists at VA medical facilities in Arizona and Texas. Some have said the claims backlog cover-up has resulting in at least 40 deaths.

“Hundreds of our nation’s heroes have disappeared from the appointment books and been denied medical care at the hands of scheming bureaucrats focused on their own financial gain, instead of the health and well-being of America’s veterans,” Cornyn said.

The preliminary report found that veterans had to wait an average of 115 days before receiving primary car appointments at a VA facility in Phoenix.

Cornyn, as well as several other lawmakers, has called for the resignation of VA Secretary Eric Shinseki because of the recent reports, but so far Obama has ordered the IG to investigate first.