Former Massachusetts Veterans' Home Officials Avoid Jail in COVID-19 Outbreak Case

The probationary settlement for two former officials at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home, where 76 veterans died, sparks calls for accountability and questions about oversight.

Bennett Walsh and Dr. David Clinton, former officials at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home in Massachusetts, have settled their criminal case related to a COVID-19 outbreak without jail time, facing only probation.
The outbreak at the home resulted in the deaths of at least 76 veterans, marking one of the nation's worst COVID-19 outbreaks in a long-term care facility.
The case against Walsh and Clinton was notable as the first U.S. prosecution of nursing home caregivers in connection with pandemic-related deaths.
Judge Edward J. McDonough's decision to continue charges without a finding for a probationary period has sparked outrage among victims' families and state officials, calling for accountability.
The controversy also highlights the role of former Governor Charlie Baker in appointing Walsh, who lacked relevant healthcare management experience, to run the facility.