Just one day before the vice presidential debate between Sen. J.D. Vance, R-O.H., and Gov. Tim Walz, D-M.N., a scandal involving their medical records has erupted at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
At least a dozen employees of the VA are under criminal investigation for allegedly accessing the medical records of the vice presidential candidates without authorization. The breach, discovered during a routine review of high-profile accounts, occurred in July and August.
Vance, 40, the Republican nominee, served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2003 to 2007. Walz, 60, the Democratic nominee, spent 24 years in the National Guard. This marks the first time since 1996 that both vice presidential candidates have military service backgrounds.
VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes addressed the records scandal Monday.
“We reported to law enforcement allegations that VA personnel may have improperly accessed Veteran records. We take the privacy of the Veterans we serve very seriously and have strict policies in place to protect their records,” Hayes said in a statement.
The investigation, led by VA Inspector General Michael Missal’s office, has revealed that several health system employees, including a physician and a contractor, spent extended time viewing the medical files. This evidence has been shared with federal prosecutors.
On August 30, 2024, VA Secretary Denis McDonough also issued an internal warning memo stating, “Viewing a Veteran’s records out of curiosity or concern – or for any purpose that is not directly related to officially authorized and assigned duties – is strictly prohibited.”
Unauthorized access to personal health data violates the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and can result in up to a year in prison and fines of up to $50,000.
Investigators are working to determine whether any accessed information was shared outside the VA system. Both the Trump-Vance and Harris-Walz campaigns have been notified of the breach.
Some VA employees under investigation claimed they were merely curious about the candidates’ health status, given that both Vance and Walz have discussed their military records on the campaign trail. The accessed records did not include disability compensation information, which is subject to stricter security protocols.
Vance and Walz will meet Tuesday, Oct. 1st at 9:00 p.m. for a debate that is scheduled for 90 minutes on CBS News.