Drew Griffin, the investigative journalist whose reporting for CNN on delayed care at Veterans Affairs hospitals prompted the resignation of the secretary of the department, died on Saturday. He was 60.
The lead to of loss of life was not straight away made general public, but Mr. Griffin had most cancers, Chris Licht, CNN’s main govt, said in a email to staff associates on Monday. Mr. Griffin was residing in the Atlanta spot and died at dwelling with his family, in accordance to CNN.
“Drew’s dying is a devastating reduction to CNN and our total job,” Mr. Licht said. “Drew’s operate had outstanding effect and embodied the mission of this group in each and every way. He cared about trying to get the truth of the matter and holding the impressive to account.”
Mr. Griffin joined CNN in Could 2004. During his time with the network, he protected a variety of problems, which includes sexual assault allegations in opposition to Uber drivers, fraud promises versus Trump University during Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential marketing campaign, and the aftermath of the Jan. 6 assault on the United States Capitol. His get the job done on the Capitol attack was cited in court docket filings by the U.S. Section of Justice, in accordance to CNN.
“His do the job ethic was unparalleled,” Mr. Licht stated. “Even as he battled cancer, he refused to give up on the reporting that was so essential to him and was even doing work on an investigation until finally the day he handed away.”
In January 2014, Mr. Griffin led an investigative staff that broke a tale about at minimum 19 navy veterans who died just after their appointments at Veteran Affairs hospitals experienced been delayed. 1000’s of other veterans had been encountering related delays for treatment method.
After CNN’s reporting, Eric Shinseki resigned as secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, dealing with tension about the hold off in treatment for veterans. Other department officers had been later on fired.
“We never have time for interruptions,” President Barack Obama said when he declared Mr. Shinseki’s departure. “We need to resolve the issue.”
The entire body of work on the veterans, “CNN Investigative Stories: Disaster at the VA,” attained a Peabody Award, just one of the most prestigious recognitions in tv and radio, in 2014. The reporting also attained an Edward R. Murrow Award.
“Our aim in this reporting was not just to shed mild on this issue,” Mr. Griffin stated when he acknowledged the Peabody Award. “We wanted to impact adjust, to maintain these politicians and bureaucrats dependable.”
Mr. Griffin also acquired a National Push Basis Award in 2007, and Emmy Awards in 2005, 2006 and 2007, in accordance to CNN.
Mr. Griffin’s perform centered on investigations, but he would also volunteer to address breaking information stories, CNN stated.
Although masking Hurricane Harvey from Beaumont, Texas, in 2017, Mr. Griffin was about do a reside report on CNN when a male nearby drove a truck into flood h2o. Mr. Griffin and a photojournalist ran to rescue the male from the truck as it began to sink, a second that was aired reside.
Drew Griffin was born on Oct. 21, 1962.
He attained a bachelor’s diploma in communications from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and commenced his job in journalism as a reporter and cameraman for WICD-Tv set in Champaign, Unwell. He went on to work in Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina and Washington, in accordance to CNN.
In January 1994, Mr. Griffin joined CBS 2 News in Los Angeles, wherever he was a reporter and anchor, and helped build an investigative reporting workforce. When with CBS 2 Information, Mr. Griffin reported from New York City to address the Sept. 11 terrorist assaults, and he attained a selection of local awards for his investigative reporting.
Mr. Griffin is survived by his wife Margot 3 young children, Ele, Louis and Miles two grandchildren and two brothers.
