At least a dozen Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees improperly accessed the medical records of Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) and Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), according to investigators. The breach, discovered over the summer, has triggered a federal investigation into whether the unauthorized access was politically motivated.
VA Inspector General Michael Missal’s office has passed evidence to federal prosecutors regarding the employees’ actions, which reportedly included a contractor and a physician who spent extended time viewing the medical files. The unauthorized access represents a violation of federal health privacy laws, and investigators are now probing whether the records were shared.
Employees who accessed the files claimed they were curious about the medical records due to the scrutiny surrounding the candidates’ military service in the 2024 presidential race. Vance, a Marine veteran, has previously accused Walz of lying about his military service, including claims that Walz carried weapons “in war” when he had not served in combat.
The incident has sparked outrage from both campaigns, particularly as the two candidates are set to debate soon. Vance has been critical of Walz’s military history, pointing out that Walz dropped out of the Army National Guard before his unit deployed to Iraq. Additionally, the Minnesota National Guard revealed that Walz retired at a lower rank than he had publicly claimed.
The breach of private medical records has prompted serious questions about the integrity of VA employees and whether political motivations played a role.
