October 10, 2020

Manchin Statement On Tentative Clarksburg VAMC Settlement

Charleston, WV – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) released the following statement on the tentative settlement between the United States government and six of the victim’s families. Reta Mays, a former Clarksburg VAMC nurse, pled guilty to murdering seven Veterans in July.

“Today’s tentative settlement is further evidence that the VA and the Clarksburg VAMC were negligent in the murders that happened under their watch. I hope Reta May’s recent guilty plea and the settlements announced today bring peace of mind to the victim’s families, but money and an admission of guilt can’t bring back their innocent loved ones. It has been over two years since we learned about these murders, and no one at the VA or in the Clarksburg VAMC leadership have been held accountable for these terrible actions. The West Virginia Veteran community need answers. I strongly urge VA Inspector General Missal to quickly conclude and publish the Office of Inspector General’s report. West Virginians deserve to know what happened, and a detailed report on the VA decisions, policies, and procedures that allowed these murders to happen is the first step. I will continue working with my colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass my bipartisan legislation, the Improving Safety and Security for Veterans Act, to ensure this never happens to another Veteran or their family,” said Senator Manchin.

A timeline of Senator Manchin’s efforts on the Clarksburg VAMC investigation can be found here.