The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs responded to U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman’s suggestion that the department has a policy preventing it from settling whistle-blower retaliation claims.
But the e-mailed statement failed to answer whether the VA has a policy, written or unwritten.
“Whistleblower retaliation is unacceptable and intolerable at VA,” the VA said in its statement. “We are working hard to create and sustain a climate that embraces constructive dissent, welcomes critical feedback and ensures compliance with legal requirements. That climate mandates commitment to whistleblower protections to all employees. Secretary McDonald has made clear that retaliation against whistleblowers is not tolerated at VA.”
On Tuesday, Coffman, an Aurora Republican, , inquiring whether the department has such a policy.
His inquiry came after Coffman met with five women who worked at an outpatient VA facility in Aurora who said they were sexually harassed or abused by a male nurse who supervised them.
Several of the women are in mediation, but their attorney, Trish Bangert, worried that the government may try to drag on the settlement process.
The statement from the VA from spokesman Paul Sherbo does not address whether there is a policy of not settling those claims with the VA. A settlement would trigger a review of any incident by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175, cillescas@denverpost.com or twitter.com/cillescasdp
