Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough testifies Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, before a House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs hearing on whether the VA ignore and perpetrate sexual harassment. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

WASHINGTON — Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough on Wednesday denied having any memory of receiving a letter or emails alerting him to sexual misconduct allegations at a VA office that promotes harassment-free workplaces.

“I have no independent recollection of reading the letter or being aware of the [VA Office of Resolution Management, Diversity and Inclusion] allegations before our telephone conversation,” McDonough told Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

Bost last week publicly revealed the VA’s Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection had completed an internal investigation into allegations by female employees involving sexual harassment and misconduct by male supervisors at the VA office and described the findings as “damning.” He said the investigation substantiated several of the allegations, which helped lead to Wednesday’s hearing.

What McDonough knew about the allegations and when he learned about them were at the center of the House hearing that focused on the response of senior VA leaders to the allegations.

McDonough testified he did not remember receiving, reading or even being aware of communications sent to him in the fall from Bost and an unnamed whistleblower about the allegations of sexual misconduct and mismanagement.

“You said you don’t remember my letter because you often don’t review all background briefing material in your briefing book,” Bost said, pressing McDonough about whether his staff even tried to alert him about the letter and its importance. “You can see my frustration. Is a chairman’s letter background material?”

Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, questions Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, during a hearing on whether the VA ignore and perpetrate sexual harassment. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

McDonough responded: “It’s an important document. We have updated our processes to flag those. Look, it’s my responsibility to have seen the letter when it was presented.”

Wednesday’s hearing was the first time that McDonough publicly testified before the committee since the panel began investigating whistleblower complaints made in September 2023 of sexual harassment by VA supervisors.

“I want to be crystal clear: The VA does not tolerate sexual harassment. The [diversity office] fell short of that,” McDonough said, assuring Bost that the VA will take disciplinary actions and improve procedures for handling sexual harassment allegations.

But McDonough said he only learned about the allegations when Bost personally phoned him on Nov. 13.

“You will recall we spoke by phone,” McDonough said in response to questions by Bost. “You raised with me your concerns about allegations and said that you sent a letter on Sept. 29 and expressed dismay over lack of response. I had no knowledge of it, and that remains true today.”

Bost’s call to McDonough followed a letter to the VA secretary that informed him of complaints by multiple whistleblowers about alleged sexual harassment and misconduct.

McDonough said he did not dispute that a letter from Bost arrived at his office and was later included by staff in his daily briefing book.

He also acknowledged to lawmakers that an audit trail showed he opened emails on Oct. 17 from a whistleblower employee and then forwarded the messages to the acting general counsel.

“The documented evidence suggests I forwarded it to counsel,” McDonough said, adding he did not click on attachments in the email or view the allegations.

Bost asked the VA secretary whether he is accountable for failures at the agency’s diversity and inclusion office.

McDonough replied: “I am responsible for everything that happens at VA.”

But Bost said it was troubling that McDonough delayed launching an internal investigation until Bost personally called and informed him.

“It’s inexcusable for the department to delay addressing the broken and toxic situation any longer,” the congressman said.

Bost also said an internal investigation by the VA supported whistleblower claims that certain managers engaged in inappropriate sexual misconduct and other managers failed to initiate an investigation.

Rep. Mark Takano of California, the top Democrat on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, questions Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, during a hearing on whether the VA ignore and perpetrate sexual harassment. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

Rep. Mark Takano of California, the top Democrat on the VA committee, said the report shows there were two supervisors who engaged in inappropriate conduct with employees and four supervisors failed to take prompt and appropriate action to respond to the problems.

But he disputed assertions by Republican lawmakers of systemic problems and widespread misconduct at the VA diversity office. He said other claims were not supported, including that allegations were “purposely ignored” or there was retaliation for turning down sexual advances.

But the report’s summary states, “The mountain of evidence and testimony revealed an office replete with misconduct including by organization leaders, which spawned an environment where inappropriate conduct was rampant.”

The report also includes recommendations for discipline, including suspension and termination of certain managers.

“This is an office to prevent and address sexual harassment. How is the rest of the organization supposed to respond when those in that office don’t bother to address an employee concerns?” asked Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa.

She urged McDonough to follow through with “appropriate discipline” and other actions.

“While [Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection] did not identify individual misconduct on the part of every leader within the organization, global leadership deficiencies and failures documented indicate the need for a reset to ensure VA and [Office of Resolution Management, Diversity and Inclusion] in particular have a zero-tolerance policy for all forms of misconduct and harassment not just in word but in action,” the report concluded.