WASHINGTON — Two senior Veterans Affairs officials in Philadelphia acted improperly when subordinates were charged money to attend a work-related party featuring psychic readings, resulting in personal profits for the spouse of one official, according to an audit released Thursday.
The report by the Department of Veterans Affairs inspector general adds to a growing list of mismanagement in the Philadelphia regional office.
It was released in response to a Freedom of Information Act request by the Associated Press.
Employees reported that Lucy Filipov, the assistant director in Philadelphia, hosted a party last June in which employees were charged $30 or more to attend, specifically for the purpose of having their fortunes told or receiving psychic readings of their deceased loved ones, the report said.
The IG reported that money was collected at the party and that Filipov gave it to the wife of Gary Hodge, director of the office's pension management center, for the readings.
The IG said Filipov misused her position and that Hodge failed to report his wife's financial gain on disclosure forms. It referred the matter to the Justice Department, which declined to take criminal action in favor of administrative discipline by the VA.