FACTCHECK: Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough has not been convicted by the military

An image shared on Facebook claims that the military has convicted Secretary for Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough.

Verdict: False

There is no evidence to suggest McDonough has been charged or convicted of any crime. This claim is based on a satirical website.

Fact Check:

McDonough was confirmed by the Senate to be the Veteran Affairs secretary in February 2021 after being nominated for the position by President Joe Biden, according to NPR. According to the outlet, he was previously President Barack Obama’s chief staff.

An image posted on Facebook shows that he has been sentenced to death by an U.S. military panel. The image shows what appears to be a screen grab of a July 27 news article with a headline that reads, “Military Convicts Denis McDonough.” The text of the article goes on to claim he was convicted and sentenced to death on July 22 “following a brief tribunal that saw the defendant deliver a teary-eyed opening statement in which he apologized for fleecing the VA for billions of dollars.”

The claim is baseless. They claim it is false. would not have covered it if it was true. There are also no press releases or announcements about McDonough’s alleged conviction and death sentence on either the Department of Defense’s website or the Department of Justice’s website. He is still listed as the secretary on the Veteran Affair’s website.

McDonough was also reportedly in Boise, Idaho July 28 where he gave a press conference, according to the Idaho Capital Sun. This appearance comes nearly a week after he was allegedly sentenced to death on July 22.

An internet search reveals the screen grab included in the post stems from a July 27 article published by the website Real Raw News. The website’s “About Us” page states the site “contains humor, parody, and satire.” (RELATED: No, The Military Did Not Arrest Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough)

The July 27 Real Raw News post appears to be a continuation of a July 13 article on the site that alleged McDonough had been arrested by the military. The claim was debunked by Check Your Fact at the time.