Massive breach after a dozen Veterans Affairs staff improperly accessed J.D. Vance and Tim Walzs medical records days before VP debate
At least a dozen staffers at the Department of Veterans Affairs improperly accessed the medical records of vice presidential nominees J.
At least a dozen staffers at the Department of Veterans Affairs improperly accessed the medical records of vice presidential nominees J.D. Vance and Tim Walz over the summer.
The bombshell discovery first reported by the Washington Post reveals a major breach at one of the largest agencies in the U.S. that has over 450,000 employees and serves over 9 million veterans.
The revelation also comes on the eve of the vice presidential debate between the two men, the last scheduled face-to-face showdown between any candidate ahead of Election Day.
VA officials have said they are investigating the data breach internally and that the hack came through the departments Veterans Health Administration.
The Department of Justice is also investigating the hack, a VA official confirmed to DailyMail.com.
Vance and Walz are scheduled to debate Tuesday October 1 on CBS News
We reported to law enforcement allegations that VA personnel may have improperly accessed Veteran records, VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes told DailyMail.com in a statement.
We take the privacy of the Veterans we serve very seriously and have strict policies in place to protect their records.
Any attempt to improperly access Veteran records by VA personnel is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. For further queries on this matter, please reach out to the Department of Justice.
Both the Vance and Walz campaigns were reportedly notified about the security lapse.
The VA Inspector General Michael Missal’s office shared evidence of the VP nominees accounts being accessed with DOJ federal prosecutors, law enforcement officials told the Washington Post.
Among that evidence are files indicating that a physician and contractor spent extended periods reviewing the politicians medical profiles, prompting concern about the suspects motives.
Both suspects used their agency credentials and computers to access the private medical files.
Representatives for Vance declined to comment while Walzs campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Vice Presidential Nominee J.D. Vance speaks at a Town Hall Event in Monroeville, PA
Democratic vice presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz had his medical files illegally accessed by employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs. The same happened to Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, a Washington Post report published on the eve of their televised debate claims
The candidates data was apparently accessed in July and August but was not discovered until later in August after a security sweep.
These sweeps of high-profile veterans happen periodically, sources told the outlet.
One of the major questions that law enforcement officials are hoping to answer with their probe is whether the accessed files were shared externally.
Intimate details such as disability compensation were not accessed in the data breach, officials told the Washington Post, as those are stored behind an interface requiring clearances.
Some employees that accessed the private medical records that were interviewed by law enforcement officials told them they did so out of curiosity.
The breach even prompted an internal memo to be sent out advising employees about the agencys data privacy requirements.
The notice did not mince words.
Veteran information should only be accessed when necessary to accomplish officially authorized and assigned duties as an employee, contractor, volunteer, or other personnel, a copy of the notice obtained by DailyMail.com stated.
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.
Failure to comply with these requirements may result in disciplinary action, including removal, as well as referral to law enforcement for civil penalties and criminal prosecution.
he US Department of Veterans Affairs building is seen on August 21, 2024 in Washington, DC
Some VA employees who improperly viewed the politicians medical records said they did so out of curiosity
Walz served for 24 years in the Minnesota National Guard while Vance served four years in the Marine Corps.
Both candidates military records have come into play on the campaign trail.
Walz has been embroiled in a scandal where he is alleged to have exaggerated his service record, claiming to have carried weapons in war despite never having actually done so.
He was also slammed for backing out of his unit shortly before it was deployed to the Middle East.
Members of that military unit have critiqued Walz for abandoning them at the last minute before launching his bid for Congress.
Vances service has come up in regard to his role as a military journalist. The Republican has noted, as have is critics, that he never served in a combat role.
