VA Official Grilled About E-Mails

(CBS)  CBS News Chief Investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian and producer Pia Malbran wrote this story for CBSNews.com.

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The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) deputy chief, Gordon Mansfield, was questioned Wednesday by members of congress in Washington about allegations that the VA tried to cover up the true risk of suicide among veterans.

"I am very angry and upset," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., during a Senate hearing on veterans issues. Murray asked Mansfield how the public should trust the VA when "every time we turn around we find out that what you're saying publicly is different from what you're saying privately?"

Internal e-mails made public this week as part of a lawsuit in San Francisco federal court show what appears to be the deliberate attempt by top VA officials to conceal the number of suicides and attempted suicides by veterans.

In one email message titled "Not for the CBS News…," the VA's head of mental health Dr. Ira Katz wrote "Shh!" and then claimed there were 1,000 suicide attempts per month by veterans under the care of the agency. The e-mail was written last February when CBS News was questioning the VA about the number of veterans who have tried to kill themselves.

After a public records request, the VA provided CBS News with data that showed there were a total of 790 attempted suicides by VA patients in the entire year of 2007. This number was nowhere near what Katz was saying privately in his email.

In response to Murray, Mansfield said "I share your concern and I apologize for the fact that I have to apologize again." He then said he would not characterize the e-mail as "keeping information from this Congress." After listening to Murray, Mansfield called it "unfortunate" and said the e-mail "does not bode well" or "send the right message."

Outside the hearing room,

Murray said it was time for Katz "to go."

When asked about Katz's future by CBS News Chief Investigative Correspondent Armen Keteyian,

Mansfield would not respond. He said, "I am not prepared to discuss the issue. I don't have all the facts."

Meanwhile another senator, Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, introduced a bill Tuesday mandating the VA to provide Congress with an annual accounting of suicide both in and out of the VA system.

Harkin told CBS News

"whoever is involved in covering up and not giving [Congress] a clear picture of how many veterans are out there attempted and committing suicide… [should] lose their job."

Katz was not at the Senate hearing Wednesday and the VA has not commented on his future at the agency.

But a source tells CBS News Katz's days as the head of mental health at the VA may well be numbered.

By Armen Keteyian and Pia Malbran

[marshall1040]

You will V.A. have to wake for years to get help from the VA.,an then you will get 10 per cent for a claim.

[bsimon2007]

His days "may be numbered"? I should hope so, at the very least.

[oomarty]

I think i mentioned Rebublican greed.

Forgot Democratic apathy. and don''t get in the way of the Greedy Republicans or they will expose us for allowing them to do what they get away with.

The Working class needs a Labor party.....

[antoniof123]

But a source tells CBS News Katz''s days as the head of mental health at the VA may well be numbered.

Ya Think. LOL another Bushbot biting the dust. At this rate we won''t have any neo cons left in the government.

[bobnjersey]

[Don''''t forget people. The VA is GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE. This is what many of you seem to want.]
[Posted by mjvw2 at 08:53 AM : Apr 24, 2008]

this is complete incomepentence and malfeasance from public officials ... who should be escorted from the building the minute their actions (like these) are exposed.

what''s desired is a universal plan that doesn''t lock you into an employer for the coverage ... and doesn''t have premiums raising 20% a year w/ decreasing benefits. the group is 300 million americans ... not 20 people from 150k companies.

[bobnjersey]

[Push your congressman for more funding for our military.]
[Posted by aldon61 at 10:27 AM : Apr 24, 2008]

they have enough of a piece of the whole pie. let them find some ridiculous weapons program to drop ... and use the money from that to help the veterans w/ health issues.

missile defense ($15.9b), osprey ($2.6b), f22 ($4.6b), stealth destroyer ($3b), viginia class sub ($2.5b), to name a few.

[oomarty]

Government health care is also what John Mc Cain and President George Bush have had for most of their lives. John Mc Cain is still Healthy Physically and able to run for President when other would be forced to retire out of fears of senility

Republicans have refuse to take care of the basic needs of poor children. Yet without a second thought send them off to die in a war where profit appears to be the real motive.

If Republicans ran the health care it would be just like they way the have run the rest of our Government

Justice Department. How can we use Justice as a weapon to hurt others to benefit ourselves and keep the Republican majority since the people wont and didn''t vote for Republicans or our current President. With greed and a smile.

State Department Bow and be subservient to what we wont to benefit our greed or we will lock you up and not even your family will now where you are. Or better yet destroy your country and kill your citizens.

FEMA you got a flood in Colorado well air lift your cattle out no problem Mr, infulencial land barron. New Orleans Flood what flood some body do a fly over to make sure their not lying. Heres a trailer if you live in you''ll also need health care and my buddy here will sell you a policy

We the people pay for the best health care in the world. Only problem its only offered to politicians and government employees. But not to the families who are taxed the hardest.

[mjvw2]

Don''t forget people. The VA is GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE. This is what many of you seem to want.

[zentek3]

I agree with sometime3, VA is good and bad. But don''t judge unless you been there and done that. I''m 75, the VA has gone down for 50 years. Underfunded by Repub and Dem politicians alike. Why? Vast majority with no service experience? VA Med Budget 08 is only $36.6 Billion and way short. Pols now voting on 09 for $38.7B so a tiny increase of $2.1B. Chump change. VA terribly underfunded and the lower level staff who
deal with us are underpaid and overworked and suffer because they want to help and heal and can''t. War is crazy and costly and survival is based on luck. There is a luck factor in being well served by a VA Hosp and they are costly to operate but it''s beyond crazy to go cheap on the staff and patients. It''s insane and cruel. Why does this nightmare continue? I don''t know. Do you? I just know I''ve been lucky beyond
belief in war and VA support. Too bad we aren''t all lucky. About $25B would help. Petty cash at the DofD and Pentagon. I served with heroes and now I''m an old coward because I went to Google, read about the VA and it almost scared me to death. I''m not afraid for me. I''m paralyzed by fear for my young brothers and sisters now serving. If you''ve done military time you know what FUBAR means. I''m gonna dig a hole and hide butI wish everyone good luck in dealing with the crisis.
War is hell. Peace ain''t a whole lot better.tnx,John

[Skysblue]

Mansfield SHOULD GO too. He is responsible.