Cornyn calls for VA secretary resignation

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) became the second senator to call for Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki’s resignation on Tuesday, after reports surfaced that VA officials allegedly tried to cover up “secret wait lists” and falsified records at multiple VA clinics across the country. 

{mosads}Cornyn called for a White House point person to investigate the allegations and for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to hold emergency committee meetings as soon as possible. 

“But I agree with the American Legion that General Shinseki’s time as Secretary of Veterans Affairs has come to an end, and he needs to step down,” Cornyn said.

On Monday, the veterans service group American Legion called for Shinseki, a retired four star Army general and Vietnam veteran, to step down. The last time the group called for a cabinet-level official to step down was in 1941. 

Since then, another veterans group, the Concerned Veterans for America, has called for Shinseki’s resignation, as well as several House members.  

Cornyn was the second senator to call for Shinseki’s resignation, after Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.). 

“The President needs to find a new leader to lead this organization out of the wilderness, and back to providing the service our veterans deserve,” Cornyn said. 

“I wish the White House, instead of traveling around the country, talking about the urgency of climate change, would talk with equal urgency about this failure of leadership and incompetence at the VA.” he said.