Press Releases

Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.), released the following statement after three months of waiting his oversight staff was finally able to view documents associated with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) internal investigation into current VA attorney Ms. Shekeba Morrad following a video she posted online last year mocking Israelis who are asking for the return of hostages taken by Hamas terrorists. Chairman Bost and House Republicans have repeatedly asked VA Secretary Denis McDonough for his plan to hold Ms. Morrad accountable and ensure that antisemitism has no place at VA.

“Following the review of VA’s internal investigation into Ms. Morrad’s alleged misconduct, lack of professionalism, and disrespect for veterans of Jewish faith, it’s clear to me that VA must do more to combat antisemitism for good,” said Chairman Bost. “This whitewashed “investigation” consisted of one off the record sit down interview with the accused, conducted by her coworker, and a conclusion that Ms. Morrad’s actions last year did not meet the definition of antisemitism from Wikipedia. That’s unacceptable to me and in no way ensures that this will not happen again. I have said it before and I will say it again, every single veteran has the right to know that when they apply for VA benefits or care they will not be discriminated against, and the buck stops with Secretary McDonough and this administration to make sure that fact is true.”

Background:
Following Hamas’ horrific October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, antisemitic incidents have drastically increased throughout the United States, and on college campuses nationwide. As such House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) joined Chairman Bost in calling on Secretary McDonough to release all documents to Congress related to VA’s internal investigation into Ms. Morrad’s open and blatant misconduct. Three months after the initial request, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs oversight staff was able to review VA’s internal investigation which resulted in a few hours of antidiscrimination training. To read House Republicans first letter to VA on this topic, click here. For the second and third letters on this same topic, click here and here. For Chairman Bost and House Republican Conference Chairwoman Stefanik’s prior joint statement following the Biden administration’s lack of true disciplinary action or accountability towards their antisemitic lawyer, click here.