A billboard is downtown Augusta, Georgia is forcing the conversation about the mistreatment of veterans by the VA hospital system. And there’s nothing subtle about it.
The billboard, which reads, “VA is LYING, VETERANS ARE DYING!” was posted by a 10,000+ member Facebook group called “VA is Lying.”
The group appears to be comprised of veterans who have received shoddy treatment from the government health care agency. Ron Nesler, who runs the group, isn’t going away and will be spreading the message to other communities.
“Wow! Great weekend for donations. I will be selecting a city and buying a billboard Tuesday AM,” he posted on Sunday.
Georgia Sen. Johnny Isakson defended the VA to WJBF.
Nelser has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to post more billboards. So far, he’s raised $22,380 of his $100,000 goal.
“We know the VA health system has had its problems. I was the one that called on the Department of Justice to investigate the Augusta when the first indictment came out of the VA hospital in Augusta for the mishandling of medical information, but that should not be an indictment of the entire VA health system,” Isakson, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, says.
In July, a former executive with the Augusta VA was indicted on charges that he ordered employees to falsify records “to show each case had been properly closed,” The Florida Times-Union reported.
The Department of Justice says Cathedral Henderson is facing a 50-count indictment related to veterans who needed outside care.
The crime is punishable by a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine and he is currently on paid leave, pending the outcome of his case.
Henderson’s attorney, Keith B. Johnson, said his client “was following the directive of his supervisors, and that will come out in court documents.”
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