Senate committee wants details on VA’s harassment investigation

The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee chairman and ranking member want more insight into how the Veterans Affairs Department is addressing sexual harassment claims made within its Office of Resolution Management, Diversity & Inclusion.

In a letter Thursday to VA Secretary Denis McDonough — coming as a House panel voted to subpoena department documents in its own investigation of the allegations — Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., called for information about how the department is handling its inquiry of ORMDI.

“Harassment of any kind cannot be tolerated in the workplace, including and especially in an office such as ORMDI, which sets the standards and should be the example for the Department’s workplace conduct,” the letter said. “Equally important is the protection of whistleblowers – ensuring no retaliation occurs against individuals who raise concerns about how they are being treated in the workplace.”

The Senate committee letter requests the results of any VA investigations into the ORMDI allegations “including any transcripts and final investigatory report(s) from the Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection and other relevant offices,” leadership and personnel changes made because of the investigation and whether they are permanent, what steps were taken to protect whistleblowers rights, what corrective actions were taken and a status briefing for committee staff. 

Tester and Moran’s letter goes on to state that the Senate committee is aware “some of the issues may involve ongoing investigations and potential administrative reviews involving employees,” and will not seek to impact future disciplinary actions or investigations by disclosing any of the information it receives. 

Thursday’s letter comes as pressure builds on VA in response to the allegations. The House Veterans Affairs Committee already mounted its own investigation in November coinciding with an ongoing one maintained by the department. 

The House committee has already named Harvey Johnson, deputy assistant secretary of resolution management, diversity and inclusion; Archie Davis, the former ORMDI chief of staff; and Gary Richardson, a former ORMDI supervisor, as facing the allegations from a pair of whistleblower reports. 

The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs launched its investigation after Chairman Mike Bost, R-Ill., sent letters to McDonough on Sept. 29 requesting information on policies and potential sexual harassment claims within the office dating back to 2021, followed by a Nov. 2 letter again requesting the information. 

VA officials reassigned all three officials to other roles within the department, though Johnson later retired. 

VA officials have previously said they are cooperating with the House committee and will provide their final report and more information by the end of the month.