The Nation : 75 VA Employees Probed

The Veterans Administration said some of its employees accepted gifts, speaking fees and other favors from a pharmaceutical company doing business with the agency. Spokeswoman Donna St. John said the VA inspector general’s office had determined that favors were accepted by 75 to 100 employees from Smith Kline & French Laboratories of Philadelphia. A Smith Kline spokesman said the firm had been cooperating with the VA investigation for more than a year. St. John said each case is being reviewed individually and that the VA intends to impose penalties varying from dismissal to suspension and formal admonishment. In minor cases, she said, the only action may be counseling for the employee.