But now the VA’s inspector general
says that was a lie. In a new report released Wednesday, Inspector General Michael J. Missal says Shulkin’s chief of staff doctored an email to make it appear that Shulkin was receiving an award in Denmark and then used this nonexistent honor to justify taxpayer funding of his wife’s travel.
According to the report, Vivieca Wright Simpson altered the text of an email to make it sound as if Shulkin was being honored at the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Copenhagen. She then took this email to ethics officials, who had previously denied a request to pay for Bari’s travel, and received approval to cover her $4,300 plane ticket with taxpayer funds.
