Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

babylonsister

(170,928 posts)
Fri Aug 17, 2018, 09:28 PM Aug 2018

Veterans sue Trump for letting his Mar-a-Lago cronies control the VA

https://shareblue.com/veterans-sue-trump-veterans-affairs-mar-a-lago/
Washington, D.C.
Friday, August 17, 2018
Veterans sue Trump for letting his Mar-a-Lago cronies control the VA
By Eric Boehlert -


Members of the U.S. military are demanding accountability from Trump's secretive advisers.

American veterans are fighting back and demanding accountability from the secretive triumvirate of Trump pals who have been given control over the troubled Department of Veterans Affairs.

On Thursday, Democracy Forward, working on behalf of VoteVets, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court to effectively shut down what they refer to Trump’s “Mar-a-Lago Council.”

“The new suit asserts the Mar-a-Lago Council is violating federal laws that regulate the ability of private interests to shape federal policy,” VoteVets announced in a statement on Thursday. “In flouting these rules, the Council has exercised sweeping, unlawful influence at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) over critical issues, such as the makeup of VA leadership and the privatization of VA health care services.”

“The health and safety of America’s veterans isn’t a game for President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago members to play with between rounds of golf,” added Will Fischer, Iraq War veteran and director of government relations for VoteVets.


snip//


By all indications, the three Trump cronies — Marvel Entertainment Chairman and CEO Isaac “Ike” Perlmutter, Palm Beach doctor Bruce Moskowitz, and lawyer Marc Sherman — are doing a awful job, as the VA flounders under Trump.


In May, New York Times documented the “chaos” that has engulfed the VA under Trump, and particularly its medical system. As he has “plunged the department into turmoil,” doctors are burning out and veterans are being left behind.

Recall that after Trump fired VA Secretary Shulkin via Twitter, he tried to install his White House doctor, Ronny Jackson, into the top VA leadership role. But that turned into a spectacular failure.

U.S. veterans deserve so much better. They also deserves transparency at the VA.
12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Veterans sue Trump for letting his Mar-a-Lago cronies control the VA (Original Post) babylonsister Aug 2018 OP
But how does this square w the VETERANS FOR TRUMP signs the veterans organizations allow Crutchez_CuiBono Aug 2018 #1
Yeah and this story was figured out by journalists who discovered it GusBob Aug 2018 #6
What I mean is...don ivan insults indians in front of indians...crickets... Crutchez_CuiBono Aug 2018 #7
"Pay $200000/yr to join my club and set federal policy!" struggle4progress Aug 2018 #2
Awesome!!!!!! YOu go, vets!!! lindysalsagal Aug 2018 #3
Good. n/t moondust Aug 2018 #4
Finally ! Haggis for Breakfast Aug 2018 #5
The Shadow Rulers of the VA tom_kelly Aug 2018 #8
Didn't Manager's pal want to run the Army so he OKed his bank loans? BigmanPigman Aug 2018 #9
K&R. This is a big f---ing deal, as Joe would say. KY_EnviroGuy Aug 2018 #10
Our vets are only there to be made a buck off of as far as Drumpf is concerned. Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Aug 2018 #11
Fucking Twilight Zone.. Soldiers at Fraud rallies Cha Aug 2018 #12

Crutchez_CuiBono

(7,725 posts)
1. But how does this square w the VETERANS FOR TRUMP signs the veterans organizations allow
Fri Aug 17, 2018, 09:34 PM
Aug 2018

don ivan to wave around behind him on stage? How many? How MANY veterans for trump? They need to start putting some 'figures' on these signs. There's so many. Clearly lying about great swaths of voters and Americans.

GusBob

(7,285 posts)
6. Yeah and this story was figured out by journalists who discovered it
Fri Aug 17, 2018, 10:12 PM
Aug 2018

Where do the vets and soldiers get off booing the media?

Crutchez_CuiBono

(7,725 posts)
7. What I mean is...don ivan insults indians in front of indians...crickets...
Fri Aug 17, 2018, 10:16 PM
Aug 2018

veterans insult other veterans by supposedly supporting him w signs speaking for ALL of them, without push-back from the groups and they allow him to continue to somehow claim their support.

struggle4progress

(117,949 posts)
2. "Pay $200000/yr to join my club and set federal policy!"
Fri Aug 17, 2018, 09:36 PM
Aug 2018

18 USC 201

...(b) Whoever—

(1) directly or indirectly, corruptly gives, offers or promises anything of value to any public official or person who has been selected to be a public official, or offers or promises any public official or any person who has been selected to be a public official to give anything of value to any other person or entity, with intent —
(A) to influence any official act ...

(2) being a public official or person selected to be a public official, directly or indirectly, corruptly demands, seeks, receives, accepts, or agrees to receive or accept anything of value personally or for any other person or entity, in return for:
(A) being influenced in the performance of any official act ...

shall be fined under this title or not more than three times the monetary equivalent of the thing of value, whichever is greater, or imprisoned for not more than fifteen years, or both, and may be disqualified from holding any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States ...

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/201

Haggis for Breakfast

(6,831 posts)
5. Finally !
Fri Aug 17, 2018, 10:10 PM
Aug 2018

I have been screaming about this for months, calling both of my senators and my rep, crying "Foul."

These guys have no business setting VA policy. No experience. No time in the uniform. And no love for government. All three of these vultures want to see the VA privatized. Shulkin was fired for refusing to capitulate to the idea.

Right now there are 26,000 vacancies across the VA nationwide. It is NO coincidence that these positions have not been filled. They are trying to kill the VA with attrition of staff to validate their move to privatization.

No. No. No. Keep your filthy hands off my VA.

BigmanPigman

(51,365 posts)
9. Didn't Manager's pal want to run the Army so he OKed his bank loans?
Fri Aug 17, 2018, 11:11 PM
Aug 2018

I think they all have been selling positions for money and/or favors. Hands down they are the most corrupt admin in my memory.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,480 posts)
10. K&R. This is a big f---ing deal, as Joe would say.
Fri Aug 17, 2018, 11:19 PM
Aug 2018

tRump believes he can run the entire US government via country club meetings, from a private cell phone and with everything vetted only through Faux News personnel.

Kudos to the vets for standing up and standing strong!...... ........

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Veterans sue Trump for le...