House Panel to Hold Meetings with Air Force and Office of Special Counsel to Investigate Military Mortuary

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is scheduled to meet with representatives of the U.S. Air Force and Office of Special Counsel in the next few days to investigate the mishandling of remains at the military mortuary in Dover, Delaware. The committee requested that by December 9th, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta submit a list naming those involved in the allegations of mishandling remains and describing any discipline they faced.
The Pentagon has reassured members of the military and their families that the Air Force addressed all of the problems at the mortuary.  However, the Office of Special Counsel has said that the Air Force has not taken full responsibility for Dover’s operational shortcomings. In November, Panetta initiated a special review of the mortuary to gather more information about how the Air Force disciplined those responsible.  In another case of mishandling and misidentification of remains at the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, three supervisors were punished, but no one was fired.

“Let me make very clear to the families of our fallen heroes that every step will be taken to protect the honor and dignity that their loved ones richly deserve,” Panetta said in a written statement.

Tagged: Whistleblower Laws (Federal)