CHARLESTON, W.Va. — U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is crediting Charleston Mayor Danny Jones for telling him about a transfer planned by the Veterans Administration.
Jones called Manchin this weekend after he heard Doug Paxton, an Oregon VA director, was being reassigned to the Huntington VA Medical Center in West Virginia.
“We knew they were considering him, but we had no idea they’d move this quick and try to sneak him in,” Manchin said of Paxton.
Paxton, the director of the Roseburg VA Medical Center, had a number of problems there. According to the New York Times, the facility faced criticism for allegedly turning away patients against doctors’ recommendations in an effort to improve its quality of care ratings. Paxton has denied the claims.
Manchin confirmed Monday on the mayor’s show “580 Live” on MetroNews affiliate 580-WCHS that Paxton will not be transferred to the Huntington facility.
“I don’t know where he’s going or if they’re reviewing, but he’s not coming to West Virginia,” Manchin said.
Manchin said he’s committed to protecting West Virginia’s veterans.
“We’ve got enough challenges. Our veterans deserve this service and to have somebody coming in here with a cloud over them is not something we need in West Virginia,” he said.