Lawmakers will ask state authorities to investigate Veterans Affairs Office

Local lawmakers will ask the S.C. Attorney General's Office to look into accusations of misconduct made by employees in the Cherokee County Veterans Affairs Office.

VA employees Kathy Love and Michelle Tucker met in closed session for nearly two hours Monday afternoon with the Cherokee County Legislative Delegation to discuss what they said are possible violations of federal privacy laws in the local VA office.

Veteran Frank Sossamon requested the audience with the legislative delegation after a complaint about the county's veterans affairs office was filed under the federal Whistleblower Protection Act.

Neither Love nor Tucker were willing to discuss specifics regarding their accusations about the VA office. Both employees said they fear they are in jeopardy of losing their jobs.

"We are here to serve the veterans," Tucker said. "Some veterans have gone out of the county to receive services for the simple reason they don't want to come into the office. They don't want to deal with Sammy (veterans affairs officer Willard)."

The closed door session before the legislative delegation was held over the protests of State Sen. Harvey Peeler.

Peeler said he was reluctant to go into executive session to discuss a sensitive political matter involving the veterans affairs office.

"I do not think it is necessary to go into executive session. I think it would set a bad precedent," Peeler said. "I have felt the sting of the Veterans Affairs Office before. I will go along with whatever state Reps. Olin Phillips and Dennis Moss decide to do. I'm leaving it in their hands."

Some local veterans groups withdrew their support of Willard in May.

Cherokee County Veteran Affairs Officers are recommended to the legislative delegation following an advisory election by veterans. Local lawmakers have the sole authority to appoint and remove a VA Officer. Willard's term expires in June of 2009.

Phillips said lawmakers are not ready to take any action regarding the Cherokee County Veterans Affairs Office.

"This situation needs to be looked at deeper before we can make a decision," Phillips said. "We will refer this matter to the S.C. Attorney General's Office for further investigation. If the attorney general's office won't take the case, we will probably ask the State Law Enforcement Division to look into it."

Willard did not attend Monday's meeting. He is taking an unpaid leave of absence June 23 through Aug. 1 to go on vacation with his wife to Alaska and Canada, Cherokee County interim administrator Ben Clary said.

Clary said he approved the leave at Willard's request since it was beyond the veteran affairs officer's two weeks of paid vacation time.