Investigative documents shared with a congressional committee revealed “disturbing and abhorrent” sexual relationships and misconduct among employees. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facility in Tennessee, the committee chairman said Wednesday.
Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, has investigated allegations of sexual harassment, sexual abuse and inappropriate interpersonal relationships at the Mountain Home VA Medical Center in Tennessee since the allegations came to light in July.
On Wednesday, the VA shared certain documents from its investigation with the commission that showed sexual misconduct occurred on VA property in Mountain Home.
“The sexual misconduct, harassment and inappropriate interpersonal relationships that were allowed to continue at the Mountain Home VA facility are disturbing and disgusting,” Bost said in a statement Wednesday. “If these allegations are confirmed, there is no doubt that these men and women have nothing to do with serving veterans in East Tennessee, and this should never have happened.”
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The House of Representatives committee said it is investigating “troubling” allegations of sexual misconduct at the Department of Veterans Affairs Mountain Home VA Medical Center in Tennessee. (Google Maps)
Concerns about sexual misconduct among the facility’s staff were first raised in July and later confirmed by whistleblowers, the commission said. Since July, Bost has sent three letters to VA Secretary Denis McDonough inquiring about the allegations of “a serious culture problem” and asking for an investigation.
The VA told Fox News Digital in a statement that the department has “zero tolerance” for sexual misconduct, and that the “employees involved in any misconduct are no longer employed by the VA.”
Bost is chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images, file)
“As soon as allegations of misconduct at this facility came to light, VA reported the matter to the appropriate authorities, initiated our own investigation and notified Congress,” a VA spokesperson said. “We continue to cooperate fully with all appropriate authorities in this matter, and we hold our employees accountable to the highest standards of care and respect. When employees fail to meet these standards, we take immediate action – as we did in this case. case.”
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The committee said Wednesday that, to their knowledge, the VA’s investigation is ongoing Mountain housewho were aware of the “sexually explicit activity” were still employed by the VA.
Fox News has reached out to the VA Mountain Home healthcare facility but has not yet received a response.
Bost has sent VA Secretary Denis McDonough, pictured above, three letters demanding answers since the allegations came to light in July. (Craig Hudson for The Washington Post via Getty Images, file)
Bost said he is committed to finding those ultimately responsible for allowing the behavior at the facility and holding everyone involved accountable.
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“As we continue to receive more information from the Department about why this behavior was allowed, who committed these actions, whether those involved are still collecting a taxpayer-funded paycheck from VA, and who is ultimately responsible, I will continue to fight the tooth of the time. nail to urge the Biden administration to hold everyone involved accountable,” Bost said.
