WASHINGTON — Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said this Wednesday after news media reported that an employee of the Tomah (Wis.) Veterans Affairs Medical Center was jailed on suspicion of sexual assault:
“The allegations reported in the press are deeply disturbing. If they are true, and if patients at the Tomah VA suffered sexual assault, it would be an absolutely deplorable violation of the duty this nation and the VA owe to the finest among us, especially those seeking relief for physical and emotional wounds.
“Nearly one year after serious problems at the Tomah VA came to widespread attention, it is of utmost importance that the VA protect our veterans from wrongdoers. I will continue to hold VA officials accountable while also addressing the other problems that have engulfed the Tomah VA.”
Chairman Johnson and the committee continue to investigate the overprescription of painkillers and other failures of patient care at the Tomah VA. See the committee’s interim report here.