Crow Statement Calling on VA Secretary Wilkie to Resign

Statement

Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06) issued the following statement calling on Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie to resign after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General's report detailing the discrediting and cover-up by VA senior leadership of a case of sexual assault targeting a veteran and House staffer. Crow is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and a combat veteran.

"I'm shocked by the Inspector General's report that VA Secretary Wilkie and Congressman Crenshaw engaged in a smear campaign against a female veteran who was alleging sexual abuse. Secretary Wilkie has betrayed the trust of the very veterans he is obligated to protect, and for this betrayal he must resign immediately. I also call for an immediate investigation into the role of Congressman Crenshaw in this smear campaign.

Both our VA system and the military have a problem with sexual harassment, assault, and violence. If those at the very top can't abide by the standards we are trying to set then they must leave immediately. Sexual assault and violence have been a problem for far too long, but we won't let it continue. Change starts with leadership, and leadership starts with accountability."

Earlier this fall, Congressman Crow helped introduce the bipartisan I Am Vanessa Guillén Act, which would move prosecution decisions on sexual assault and sexual harassment cases outside of the chain and establish a standalone military offense for sexual harassment. The bill also reforms the ways in which servicemembers report harassment, and the Department of Defense and Government Accountability Office evaluate cases. Crow also visited Fort Hood, Texas as part of a congressional delegation to investigate the Army's botched response to the disappearance and murder of SPC Vanessa Guillén and the deaths of PV2 Gregory Wedel Morales, SGT Elder Fernandes, PFC Brandon Rosecrans, and SPC Freddy Delacruz. His past remarks can be found here.

Source