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Monday, November 23, 2015

VA Won't Fire Officials Who Defrauded Agency, Pleaded Fifth

A pair of Department of Veterans Affairs officials who invoked their Fifth Amendment rights earlier this month rather than answer questions about their alleged involvement in a fraud scheme will remain at the agency.

Diane Rubens and Kimberly Graves were both demoted and reassigned to other VA offices as a result of their misconduct, the agency said late Friday. They will each receive a pay cut.

Rubens and Graves were accused of manipulating a VA program that pays for the relocation of employees who have to move long distances to take new jobs within the agency.

According to the VA's inspector general, Rubens created a position for herself in Philadelphia and then accepted it, netting $274,000 in the process. Her new job entailed far fewer responsibilities, but she retained the same six-figure salary.

Graves was accused by the agency watchdog of pressuring another VA employee to vacate his position and then taking it for herself so she could reap the relocation benefits.

Despite what lawmakers have blasted as "shockingly unethical" conduct, both women will hold onto jobs at the agency.

What's more, they will be eligible to receive relocation benefits for their reassignments through the same program they abused in the first place.

More here

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a slap in the Face to the taxpayers of this country.

Anonymous said...

What a pair of scammers!

Anonymous said...

This pretty much sums up what is wrong with our government!

Anonymous said...

Thieves and con artists. There are honest people who deserve their jobs.

Anonymous said...

You idiots keep voting for Democrats. That's why this happens morons.

Anonymous said...

Only the government would work this way. When its not yours to begin with this is what you get.

Anonymous said...

DID the EPA screw_ups get reassigned and given pay raises for their polluting the COL. RIVER???

Anonymous said...

The union contracts permit this fraud and this is why a new and reasonable contract needs to be negotiated.