WASHINGTON (AP) — Four prominent veterans groups are exchanging accusations with Republican Sen. Richard Burr after he criticized the groups for declining to embrace his call for Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to resign amid reports of treatment delays and falsified records at VA hospitals.

In an “open letter to America’s veterans” timed for the Memorial Day weekend, Burr chastised the service organizations for refusing to call for Shinseki’s dismissal, despite a call by the American Legion for Shinseki to step down following allegations that up to 40 veterans may have died while waiting for treatment at a Phoenix VA hospital.

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