(CNN) Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie gave inaccurate answers to senators during his confirmation process about pro-Confederate speeches he delivered in 2009. In response to questions about remarks he made at Confederate memorial events, Wilkie downplayed his participation in a June 2009 event at the Confederate memorial in Arlington National Cemetery as simply introducing a keynote speaker. He also said he didn't have copies of remarks because he had not delivered a speech to such groups in "15-20 years." Wilkie's spokesman Curt Cashour told CNN's KFile on Thursday that the secretary answered questions from senators with his "best recollection" of the events. Cashour did not answer a follow-up question about Wilkie's recollection of the 2009 speech at Arlington National Cemetery.

Source: CNN December 14, 2018 21:56 UTC