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Sen. Udall Joins Rep. Coffman In Call For VA Head To Resign

DENVER (AP/CBS4) - Colorado Democratic Senator Mark Udall is calling for Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to resign.

US Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Erik K. Shinseki
US Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Erik K. Shinseki (credit: KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images)

Udall becomes the first Democratic senator to make such a demand in the ongoing scandal over VA medical care. He made his statement Wednesday on Twitter after the release of an internal report that found the VA systemically delayed care to wounded veterans and manipulated records to cover it up.

The VA's inspector general is investigating 42 VA facilities across the country. It found the average wait time for care at the Phoenix VA hospital was 115 days.

In his tweet Udall said, quote, "In light of IG report & systemic issues" Shinseki should step down.

Udall joins fellow Coloradan Republican Rep. Mike Coffman to call on Shinseki to resign.

Udall faces a tight re-election race against Republican Rep. Cory Gardner.

(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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