BOSTON - Two top ranking state employees are speaking out, claiming the state did not follow health care regulations into the soldiers' homes where more than 100 veterans died during the COVID pandemic.

The whistleblowers say they were fired after they raised concerns and cooperated with the Inspector General's Office.

Eric Sheehan, the assistant secretary of veterans' homes, says everyone knew he was a straight shooter. The former Marine wrote the health care regulations for long term care facilities and was brought in to oversee the Chelsea and Holyoke homes. "If there was anyone that knew what the rules were, I'm certainly one of the experts in that area," Sheehan said.

Beth Scheffler is also an expert in the regulations. A nurse practitioner, Beth spent 20 years investigating heath care facilities for the Massachusetts Department of Health. Eric hired Beth to manage the nursing staff in Chelsea. Beth says she quickly found problems. "I was astounded. I was astounded," she said.

Beth found the home used paper medical records and stored them on the basement floor in piles.

"They were lacking in very basic infection control requirements," Beth said. "Training people on basic protective equipment from hand hygiene to how to put on a gown they didn't have any of that."

The pair says they put policies in place to comply with state guidelines, but later found they were not being followed. "When I started pushing back on my boss, identifying issues, for example infection...

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