House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer on Sunday called for Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie to resign from his post following the release of a watchdog report revealing he disparaged a congressional aide who said she was sexually assaulted at a VA facility.
Hoyer, a Democrat, joined House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the country’s leading veterans groups in denouncing Wilkie’s behavior.
“There is an epidemic of harassment and violence against women who serve, and Secretary Wilkie has a duty to all Americans to work to address it,” Hoyer said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the Inspector General’s report makes clear that Secretary Wilkie attacked the integrity of a victim of sexual assault and engaged in a cover-up that contributes to this crisis.”
The House majority leader said Wilkie “ought to resign immediately.”
“He has lost all credibility, and he has no place leading the Department of Veterans Affairs,” he said.
“No service member or veteran – and no woman – should have to endure a culture of sexual harassment and violence,” he added. “House Democrats will continue to stand with all women to end this scourge once and for all.”
Pelosi on Saturday said Wilkie had “lost the trust and confidence to serve, and must resign immediately.”
Wilkie has just weeks left in his term.
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