Obama: Shinseki has resigned as Veterans Affairs Secretary
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki has resigned in the wake of the scandals over manipulated waiting lists in the VA health system.
At a press conference Friday, President Obama announced that Shinseki offered his resignation this morning, "And with considerable regret, I accepted it."
Obama credited Shinseki with working hard to address problems within the VA system and improving conditions for his fellow veterans on a range of issues. "But as he told me this morning, the VA needs new leadership to address it," Obama said, adding that Shinseki said he does not want to be a distraction going forward.
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