Colorado VA Executive Accused Of Misusing Work Time

A government watchdog agency says a Denver-based VA executive misused official time over a four-year period because she couldn't show she had worked for all or part of up to 14 days.

In a report released Tuesday, the inspector general of the Veterans Affairs Department said the executive was also frequently late, sometimes reporting more than hour after she was due.

The executive was identified as Melanie Murphy, a regional director for the Veterans Benefits Administration. In an email to The Associated Press, Murphy said she disagrees with the findings and will contest them.

The report said VA officials would take "appropriate action" after speaking with agency attorneys and human resources officials.

The report also alleged Murphy sometimes worked remotely without taking the required training.