Michelle Nunn Says Veterans Affairs Chief Eric Shinseki Should Resign

Democratic Senate Candidate Says Veterans Affairs Chief Should Resign
UNITED STATES - APRIL 16: Candidate for U.S. Senate Michelle Nunn speaks to attendees at her meet and greet event in Shellman, Ga., on Wednesday, April 16, 2014. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - APRIL 16: Candidate for U.S. Senate Michelle Nunn speaks to attendees at her meet and greet event in Shellman, Ga., on Wednesday, April 16, 2014. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

The Democratic Senate candidate in Georgia is joining a growing chorus calling for the resignation of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki in the wake of allegations of misconduct involving delayed treatment at the VA that may have led to 40 deaths.

“There is growing evidence that the Department of Veterans Affairs needs new leadership in order to reform its badly broken bureaucracy,” Michelle Nunn said in a press release, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Nunn faces an uphill climb in a traditionally red state as she faces off against either businessman David Perdue or Rep. Jack Kingston, who are battling for the state's GOP nomination in July's primary runoff. Her fellow Democrats in the House, Reps. David Scott and John Barrow, have already called for Shinseki's resignation.

Nunn also follows a Democratic Senate challenger in another state, Alison Lundergan Grimes of Kentucky, in saying the VA chief should go.

Other vulnerable Senate Democrats are, at least for the moment, sticking by Shinseki. They urge patience ahead of an official investigation before making any conclusions.

"What I have said is that I think we need the investigation to go forward and that whoever is responsible for what has happened -- if the report substantiates the allegations then they should be held accountable," Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) said.

President Barack Obama on Wednesday promised to investigate allegations of misconduct at the department, but stood by the retired Army general.

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