MTG slams VA clinic for footage of veteran manhandled for not wearing a mask and recording staff

Marjorie Taylor Greene snuck into a Veterans Affairs medical clinic in her home state after refusing to treat a veteran and kicking him out of the facilities for not wearing a mask due to PTSD.

Rep. Greene posted a six and a half minute video to her Twitter, taken by a veteran she identified as Robby Entrekin at a VA clinic in Atlanta, Georgia. The GOP legislator took the opportunity, once again, to shut down mask mandates and bash the VA for refusing service to a veteran.

The lengthy clip begins showing an employee at the center informing Entrekin that he cannot use his phone to record employees at the facility.

But it seems that prompted Entrekin to start recording, was told he couldn’t get care if he didn’t put on a face mask.

“Veteran Robby Entrekin recently visited the West Cobb County VA Clinic (@AtlantaVAMC) and was denied service because his medical condition prevented him from wearing a mask,” Greene noted in her tweet. “Not only was this veteran mistreated by VA employees, he was ATTACKED for exercising his First Amendment right to record in a public place.”

The veteran, who was identified by MTG as Robby Entrekin, was told he could not record at a VA clinic and also had to put on a mask before being allowed through reception.

Rep. Greene, whose district is in Georgia, said Entrekin was “ATTACKED for exercising his First Amendment right to record in a public place” — though there is an ordinance prohibiting recording in facilities without staff consent

It doesn’t appear that Entrekin caught the original part on camera where he was told he wouldn’t be seen because he wasn’t wearing a mask – but it escalated towards the end of the video when he was told he couldn’t check – without a mask on his face to the appointment.

A man behind the counter told him that if he refused to wear a mask, he could request a phone or video appointment instead.

When Entrekin tried to capture his image on video, the VA employee came off the desk and knocked down the veteran’s phone, which he was still using to record.

Greene said Entrekin had a First Amendment right to record, but the VA has rules that prohibit recording in their facilities without permission from medical professionals or staff.

The US Code of Federal Regulations only permits recordings for ‘news, advertising or commercial purposes’ with the written permission of the facility manager. Even then, such admissions are limited to areas where no medical treatment is provided,” the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) wrote in a memo accompanying the injunction.

The VA has not yet returned a request from DailyMail.com for comment on the incident.

Entrekin hears behind the camera saying that he couldn’t wear a mask.

“What you’re telling me, ma’am, is that you won’t see me because I have PTSD and panic attacks,” he said.

“So now I’m having the VA police call because I have PTSD, I have panic attacks, I can’t wear a mask, I have trouble breathing — and that’s how smart our government is,” he repeated.

A man who caught Entrekin on camera was angry that his image was being captured and came up to the disabled veteran and swiped at his phone

“We’ve got a rental agent here who isn’t a doctor, but tells me I can’t see anyone,” he said, showing a photo of a security guard who also informed the veteran that he couldn’t take him in.

“Have you ever served in the service,” the veteran is seen yelling at the guard, who said he had “no reason” to answer him.

“Well, get out of my damn face then,” said Entrekin.

Greene insisted that “Mr. Entrekin had every right to record, as confirmed by a Cobb County Police Officer, especially when he was horribly beaten.”

Enrekin asked why he was required to wear a mask when all COVID-related rules were lifted everywhere, including at the medical facility where he received an echocardiogram leading to his follow-up trip to the VA.

Those in the video explained that there are still mandates for VA medical centers to require the wearing of masks on everyone who enters.

Greene reasoned that because Entrekin pays VA workers’ salaries as a U.S. taxpayer, they should treat him better

She also demanded that all mandates be finally terminated since the pandemic is declared over

An off-camera person who appears to be another patient walking with a cane said when he went to the emergency room he didn’t have to wear a mask but said at medical offices it appears to be ’50/50′ when it comes to mask requirements.

“I know the VA is a lot stricter than the rest of the country,” the man told his fellow veteran in an apparent effort to put things into perspective, but also to de-escalate.

Towards the end of the video, the security guard finally allowed the man to check in for his appointment, but told him to point his camera at the floor.

When he got to the desk, he was told to stop recording before the incident where his phone was knocked down by a VA employee.

Greene insisted that “no government employee should EVER treat a veteran this way,” stressing that he is “also a taxpayer” who pays the salaries of those who refused to see and treat him without a mask.

Veterans should not be forced to wear masks or take COVID-19 vaccines as a condition of service. We must end the mandates!!!’ she wrote.

“Our veterans are risking their lives for our freedom, and so many are still suffering the mental and physical consequences of their bravery in the service of this province,” Trump’s ally added. “Veterans should receive nothing less than first-class service from the government they fought for and the flags they wore on their uniforms.”