Ex-Phoenix VA hospital exec failed to disclose yearly gifts
PHOENIX (AP) — The former director of the Phoenix VA Health Care System — which had management problems that drew national outrage — has pleaded guilty to making false financial disclosures to the federal government about yearly gifts, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Prosecutors said all of the gifts were from a single source, a person identified in court as a former high-level VA employee who from 2005-2009 served as Helman's supervisor.
"While this is an important step forward in holding Sharon Helman accountable for her corrupt activities while serving as head of the Phoenix VA, the department's inability to convict Helman for her most serious crimes of wait-time manipulation and whistleblower retaliation has denied the veterans who died waiting for care on her watch the justice they deserve," U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, said in a statement Tuesday night.