Rep. Roby: I was misled by Central Alabama VA Director on firings

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - Alabama Representative Martha Roby (R-Dist 2) says she was intentionally mislead by the Director of the Central Alabama Veterans Affairs following discussions with him about the steps being taken to correct falsified records at health centers in central Alabama.

Roby, in published reports over the weekend, said she'd been given assurances by CAVHCS Director James Talton that employment terminations for wrongdoing were made at VA facilities in Montgomery and Tuskegee.

She said Director Talton contacted her Tuesday to say there had been a misunderstanding about what he meant when he said the employees were "relieved of their duties," saying the employees were transferred, not terminated.

"The unmistakable tenor of Friday's conversation and his failure to correct the record after three days of saturating news coverage tell me this wasn't a misunderstanding at all," Roby said. "I believe I was misled."

Alabama facilities have an average wait time for new patients of 75 days, according to VA statistics. The facilities have announced several changes to improve waiting times, including opening more appointment slots and expanding clinic hours.

READ: Montgomery veterans react to audit results on Central Alabama VA centers - 6/9/11

Roby said the "breach of trust" will only make her office dig deeper. "I believe there is more to this story," she said.

Copyright 2014 WSFA 12 News.  All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed.