Crist Calls for VA Secretary to Resign

The calls for Department of Veteran’s Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to resign grew louder Thursday, with two major Democratic candidates calling for him to step down.

Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist issued a statement Thursday afternoon calling for Shinseki’s resignation.

“I appreciate Secretary Eric Shinseki's service to his country, and while we don't know precisely what happened here, we do know that there must be accountability and confidence in leadership in order to get to the truth and provide veterans the medical care they've earned and deserve. That confidence is gone," he said.

"I think it would be best if the Secretary stepped down and allowed others to get the VA fixed once and for all," he continued.

Crist’s statement came just hours after Alison Lundergan Grimes, the Kentucky Democrat hoping to defeat Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for his Senate seat, called for Shinseki to resign.

"We owe a solemn obligation to our veterans, and our government defaulted on that contract. I don’t see how that breach of trust with our veterans can be repaired if the current leadership stays in place," she said.

McConnell has been vocal in his criticism of Shinseki and the VA but hasn’t called for him to resign.

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