ProPublica has sued the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, claiming
the agency failed to promptly process a request for correspondence with
a consultant about Agent Orange, a toxic defoliant used during the
Vietnam War.
The lawsuit, filed late Friday in U.S. District Court
in Washington, D.C., alleges that the delays violated the Freedom of
Information Act.
ProPublica submitted a FOIA request in May,
requesting correspondence between various VA officials and scientist
Alvin Young, who has guided the stance of the military and VA on Agent
Orange and whether it has harmed service members. The request also
sought internal correspondence about any contracts awarded to Young or
his consulting firm.
ProPublica and The Virginian-Pilot wrote about Young’s role in the VA’s handling of Agent Orange claims in October.
To date, the VA has not provided any of the requested documents.
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