Federal prosecutors have decided not to press criminal charges against two former executives at the Department of Veterans Affairs. One of them has been transferred to Phoenix.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia says it has declined a referral from the VA inspector general for criminal prosecution of Diana Rubens and Kimberly Graves. The former executives were accused of manipulating the agency's hiring system for their own gain.
The inspector general said in a report this fall that Rubens and Graves forced lower-ranking regional managers to accept job transfers against their will. Rubens and Graves then stepped into the vacant positions themselves, keeping their pay while reducing their responsibilities.
The U.S. Attorney's office says it has "referred the matter to the VA for any administrative action that is deemed appropriate." Rubens and Graves were demoted in November. Graves has been transferred to Phoenix to work at the Veterans Benefits Administration's regional office.
