Heller: A “heads up” on VA secretary’s apology for lying would have been nice

WASHINGTON — Veterans Secretary Robert McDonald, who apologized Tuesday for lying that he once served in U.S. special operation forces, is giving pause to one of his biggest backers on Capitol Hill.

Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., said he was troubled by the misstatement. He said he was further disappointed that McDonald did not mention the impending storm over the matter in a meeting they held just Monday.

“He was in my office yesterday; he didn’t tell me anything about the latest issues,” Heller said. “It would have been nice for him to give me a heads up on it so that I didn’t just read it the next morning.

“It’s just really bothersome to me,” Heller said. “I must admit I was very disappointed at the latest issue that has come up.”

At a shelter for homeless veterans in Los Angeles in January, McDonald was recorded during a report for CBS News telling one of the residents that he had served in special forces.

The Huffington Post subsequently reported McDonald was recognized as a graduate of Army Ranger training but never served in a special operations unit. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1975 and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division.

In a press conference Tuesday, McDonald acknowledged his comment to the homeless veteran “was inaccurate and I apologize to anyone that was offended by my misstatement.”

McDonald retired from the military in 1980 and went on to a business career capped by serving as chairman and president of Proctor & Gamble. He was confirmed to become veterans secretary last summer, seen as someone who could set straight the agency beset by health care scandals.

McDonald is scheduled to meet with members of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs on Thursday for a previously scheduled budget hearing. Heller, who sits on the panel, said it’s likely the controversy will come up.

“I have had a lot of confidence in Bob and his ability to get the job done,” Heller said. “Having confidence and feeling he is always telling the truth is imperative in order to move forward.”

McDonald also came under criticism last week after stating in a “Meet the Press” interview that 900 people have been fired from the VA since he became secretary, 60 of them for manipulating hospital wait times for veterans seeking health care. Media fact checkers found the number was far less.

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760. Find him on Twitter: @STetreaultDC.