VA head says no-cover up on suicide data

By KIMBERLY HEFLING Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake says data about the number of veterans attempting suicide was not released because of concerns about its accuracy.

E-mails among VA officials were recently disclosed during a trial in San Francisco that suggested some might have been attempting to hide the number of attempted suicides by those under the agency's care. The judge has not yet ruled in the lawsuit filed by two veterans groups.

The disclosure of the e-mails prompted two Democratic senators to call for the firing of the VA's head of mental health.

In prepared testimony before the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Peake says there were concerns about how the data discussed in the e-mails was collected.