The two Department of Veterans Affairs executives caught abusing their positions to line their pockets invoked their Fifth Amendment rights to avoid testifying at a congressional hearing.

Diana Rubens and Kimberly Graves were caught by the VA Office of the Inspector General siphoning money out of the agency through elaborate moving and promotion schemes. When they moved to new offices, Rubens and Graves reimbursed themselves for more than their travel expenses in order to pocket the extra cash. They then fabricated completely new agency positions with higher salaries and fewer duties to justify their moves. Together, they stole $2 million.

Rubens and Graves had already refused to appear at a congressional hearing, but thanks to the Accountability Act, which fast-tracks the firings of abusive and incompetent VA employees, they were subpoenaed and put in front of House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Jeff Miller for questioning. However, they pleaded the Fifth to every single one of Miller’s questions.

“Sir, I’ve been advised by counsel not to answer that question to protect my rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution,” Rubens repeated.

After 30 minutes of stalling, the two women were dismissed.

Miller was justifiably frustrated by the hearing and rumors spread by Diana Rubens.

“I want to make it clear that requiring these individuals or any individual to appear before us today is not done to embarrass them as some have asserted,” Miller said at the hearing. “They are here before us today because they are the subjects of this damning report, which was completed at this committee’s request. This hearing is not a joke, and Ms. Rubens, despite what you reportedly told some of your employees, this is not a show.”