Rep. Yoder Expresses Outrage that Former Disgraced VA Employee is Collecting Retirement Benefits

Washington, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Kevin Yoder (R-KS) sent a letter to the Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert McDonald to ask why former disgraced VA physician’s assistant, Mark Wisner, is currently collecting retirement benefits from the federal government.

The letter states that while it is technically legal for Mr. Wisner to retire while on leave and under investigation, it is bothersome that someone facing multiple counts of sexual assault is collecting a taxpayer-funded pension. Congressman Yoder asks the VA if they have the authority to freeze or revoke the benefits Mr. Wisner is receiving and if the VA could have done something differently to prevent him from retiring while he was on leave and under investigation.

Mr. Wisner is under active investigation for sexual assault after multiple veterans have brought accusations against him. Congressman Yoder is also still awaiting a response from the VA to a previous inquiry that he and Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) sent in July regarding how Mr. Wisner passed his initial background check.

The text of the letter is reproduced below:

Dear Secretary McDonald,

I am disturbed to hear reports that former VA physician’s assistant Mark Wisner is currently collecting retirement benefits from the federal government. It is unconscionable that an individual under active investigation for sexual assault is allowed to receive a taxpayer-funded retirement package. I write to you today to express the outrage of my constituents and seek clarity on why this is happening.

You are well aware that multiple veterans have brought accusations of sexual assault against Mr. Wisner. While the criminal and civil charges against Mr. Wisner are being worked out in the justice system, the VA still has a responsibility to take action to hold this individual accountable. I understand that it was technically legal for Mr. Wisner to retire while on leave and under investigation, but I think you will agree that it is distasteful that someone facing multiple counts of sexual assault is collecting a taxpayer-funded pension.

In an effort to clarify this situation for my constituents, I ask that you please answer the following questions:

1.       Does the VA have the authority to freeze or revoke the benefits Mr. Wisner is currently collecting? If so, why has the VA not done so?

2.       Was there anything that the VA could have done differently to prevent Mr. Wisner from retiring while he was on leave and under investigation?

In addition, I still await your Department’s response to my previous letter, which was sent to the Office of the Inspector General on July 21, 2016. The letter contained nine questions that sought to shed light on this situation. In a letter dated August 30, 2016, the OIG stated that the questions would be best answered by the VA and noted that they had forwarded my letter to the VA Office of Governmental Relations. Both letters are attached with this one. I expect a prompt reply to the original letter.

I have also been attempting to schedule a meeting with Under Secretary for Health David Shulkin in order to discuss the ongoing investigation into Mr. Wisner. Though I have been seeking to set a date since September, your Department has failed to make Under Secretary Shulkin available. This situation needs immediate attention at the highest levels of the VA, and it is disappointing that your Department has not moved quickly to work with Congress. I again request that a meeting be scheduled so that we can better work together on this. 

I hope that you understand the gravity of this situation, as well as the anger and sense of betrayal that many veterans in my district are feeling. Many Americans lost confidence in the VA after its scandals, and the Department has a long way to go in regaining the trust of the taxpayers and the veterans they are serving. The VA needs to take quick, decisive action in order to assure our veterans and the American people that it is fighting to protect those who served our country. Congress has already funded the VA through FY2017, but if necessary I stand ready to take legislative action should it be necessary to prevent taxpayer dollars from going to sexual predators in the future. I look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

                                                            Kevin Yoder

                                                            Member of Congress

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