At least a dozen employees of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs spent the summer investigating vice presidential candidates Republican Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio and Democratic Sen. Tim Walz of Minnesota, according to the report. Unauthorized access to medical records.
The employees are under criminal investigation for possible violations of federal medical privacy laws, The Washington Post reported. The unauthorized opinion came from Veterans Health Administration officials, was revealed by a VA investigator, and was communicated to the Vance and Walz campaigns, people familiar with the investigation told the Post.
He is the first military veteran to be the vice presidential candidate of both parties since Democrat Al Gore and Republican Jack Kemp in the 1996 election.
Law enforcement officials told the Post that the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Michael Missal had a doctor who “spent extensive time” reviewing the medical files of former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala. He said he has shared evidence with federal prosecutors relating to multiple health system employees, including employees and contractors. Harris' running mate.
FOX News Media will air a special live segment of the Vance-Waltz debate.
The potential motive for accessing the medical records is under investigation, and investigators are trying to determine whether Vance and Walz's information was shared as a result of the breach, the newspaper reported.
Department of Veterans Affairs employees reportedly improperly accessed the records of Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz. (Getty Images)
Regarding this report, VA spokesperson Terrence Hayes said in a statement to FOX News Digital, “We have reported to law enforcement an allegation that a VA employee may have improperly accessed veteran records.” said. “We take our Veterans' privacy very seriously and have strict policies in place to protect their records. Any attempt by a Veteran to gain unauthorized access to a Veteran's records will not be tolerated. , is not acceptable.”
Hayes referred Fox News Digital to the Department of Justice for further questions.
The VA employees investigated, including doctors and contractors, used VA computers to access medical records, mostly from government offices, the newspaper said. Some of the staffers in question told investigators they simply wanted to see Vance's and Walz's files, given that both candidates have defended their military records on the campaign trail. It has been reported.
J.D. Vance accuses Tim Walz of 'lying' about military service: 'Stolen trash of courage'
Walz, in particular, faced criticism for ending his 24-year career in the Army National Guard to run for Congress months before the unit was deployed to Iraq.
July 22, 2019 at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs building in Washington, DC. (Alastair Pike/AFP via Getty Images)
Mr. Vance, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years and was deployed to Iraq for about six months in 2005, accused Mr. Walz of “dishonesty” for serving in a combat zone.
law enforcement officials told the Post The VA employees being investigated did not have access to disability compensation records, which have more security protocols than health information.
VA officials shared with Fox News Digital an internal memo sent by VA Secretary Denis McDonough on Aug. 30, 2024, saying the agency “stands by our commitment to protecting privacy.”
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The message states that veterans' information “should be accessed only as necessary to perform their duly authorized and assigned duties as employees, contractors, volunteers, and other personnel.” reminded me. “Inspection of a veteran's records out of curiosity or concern or for any purpose not directly related to officially authorized and assigned duties is strictly prohibited,” the secretary said.
The memo also warned Veterans Affairs employees that “failure to comply with these requirements may result in disciplinary action, up to and including removal from employment, as well as civil penalties and referral to law enforcement for criminal prosecution.” ” warns.
