Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, left, next to James Manker, VA Acting Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits, speaks about FY19 to the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) - Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin is pledging to repay more than $4,000 for his wife's airfare for an 11-day trip to Europe that mixed business and sightseeing.
Shulkin says he accepts responsibility for making mistakes after a government investigation found he improperly accepted Wimbledon tennis tickets.
The report by the agency's internal watchdog also concluded that Shulkin's staff lied that he was getting an award to justify his wife accompanying him at taxpayer expense on the July trip to England and Denmark.
He's told the House Veterans' Affairs Committee that the "optics of this are not good" and that he wants to "make things right" by repaying costs.
Several lawmakers have chided him for apparent misuse of taxpayer money and called on him to better explain his actions.
Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin speaks about FY19 budget to the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
The Associated Press
Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, left, next to James Manker, VA Acting Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits, speaks about FY19 to the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
The Associated Press
Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin smiles during a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing on the FY19 budget, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
The Associated Press
Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin speaks during a hearing on the FY19 budget to the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
The Associated Press