This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here

Category: Legal

  • “Slow-Rolling” Appointments: Not Just at Larger VA Medical Centers Anymore

    It seems as if the VA appointment “record-keeping issue” is indeed widespread, and possible systemic.  The Army Times is reporting that VA investigators are now looking at the Cheyenne, WY, VA Medical Center (VAMC).

    A nurse – who’s now been suspended from duty – at the Cheyenne VAMC allegedly told employees there to falsify appointment records.  According to Wyoming’s congressional delegation, “the department only took action against the nurse after an email about ‘gaming the system’ surfaced in media reports.”

    Additionally, two employees at the Durham, NC, VAMC were placed on leave last week for “inappropriate scheduling practices”.  Investigations have also been started at VA hospitals in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado.

    Oh, and the problem apparently has been under investigation for a while, too.  The VA OIG apparently began investigating similar complaints of “hidden” wait times at the Albequerque VAMC months before the scandal broke in Phoenix.

    If the problem is this widespread – and has been under investigation for months – that tells me senior VA leadership indeed needs to go.  IMO, that means either they were complicit in the practice or were completely out of touch with reality.  In either case they’ve proven they’re simply not able to do their job.

     

  • Did Holder “Misspeak” Yet Again?

    Earlier this week, the US Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the Justice Department had no plans to investigate the VA hospital “secret list” scandal. I noted that in this story.

    Well, it looks like the AG’s remarks on the subject were – to be charitable – inaccurate.  Again.

    Yesterday, the VA’s Acting Inspector General, Richard J. Griffin, disclosed that VA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) personnel are currently working with Federal prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Arizona and with personnel from the Public Integrity Section of the Justice Department in Washington, DC. According to Griffin, these individuals are working together to “determine any conduct that we discover that merits criminal prosecution.”

    Hmm.  Last time I checked, both US Attorney’s offices and the Public Integrity Section were part of the Justice Department – which Holder heads. And from what Griffin said yesterday, it certainly looks like they’re “involved in an investigation” at this time. But maybe I’m just confused here.

    It’s simply not plausible to me that the AG would be clueless about what his agency is doing in connection with a matter of extreme public interest.  I don’t believe he is, actually.

    This isn’t the first time that Holder has made public statements (some of them under oath) that later turned out to be inaccurate. Remember Holder’s “erroneous” testimony to Congress concerning “Fast and Furious”?

    Geez.  GMAFB.

    I have to tip my hat to Holder, though. With a straight face, he delivers sworn testimony and other public statements that later are shown to be inaccurate better than anyone in recent memory. The man has talent, and he has chutzpah.

    He has no shame, of course. But he certainly has talent and chutzpah.

    As I said the other day: Holder seems to have forgotten history. He might do well to remember it.

    Why?  Because it wasn’t the Watergate break-in that put former AG John Mitchell in prison. It was his participation in the cover-up.

  • And The Cover-Up Continues . . . .

    Title says it all:

    Eric Holder: No Plans at DOJ to Investigate Secret Waiting Lists and Veteran Deaths at VA Hospitals

    Is anyone surprised?  God knows how Holder can look at himself in the mirror.

    Holder would do well IMO to remember one thing, though. It wasn’t the Watergate break-in that ended Nixon’s Administration.

    It was the cover-up afterwards that nailed them.  And John Mitchell was one of those who ended up doing time.

  • More Secret Service Issues? Sure Looks Like It

    We’ve written more than once before here on TAH about issues with the US Secret Service (previous articles can be found here and here and here).  Well, it looks like there’s another issue or two now coming to light.

    It seems as if agents assigned to duties protecting the POTUS were on multiple occasions diverted to another task.  Specifically, they appear to have been sent to check on the “well being” of the Director’s assistant, who “was being harassed by her neighbor.”

    For a period of time, agents were sent twice a day to a small town in SE Maryland roughly and hour’s drive from the White House.  Agents involved

    . . . . thought the reassignment was a potentially illegal use of government resources. They were concerned enough about their own liability that they kept records of their involvement and their superiors’ instructions.

    In at least one case, agents were diverted from an assignment patrolling the Ellipse shortly before the POTUS was to depart the White House via helicopter.  Such times are periods of enhanced White House security.

    When reached for comment, the former US Secret Service Director involved – Mark Sullivan

    . . . . said through a spokesman that he did not personally order the 2011 checks on his assistant’s home and that a supervisor in his office authorized the visits. He said that he learned of the checks after they began and that to his knowledge, they were done for just a few days and were “appropriate.”

    The Washington Post has a decent article on the agents’ diversion.  It’s IMO worth reading.

    Think the Holder-led Justice Department will actually investigate this case thoroughly?  And maybe even hold someone criminally liable for misuse of government resources?

    Nah.  Me neither.

  • Weird Scenes Inside the Justice System

    Two years ago, a former NYPD cop was arrested.  The charges were even in this day and age, still shocking:  conspiracy to kidnap and murder women – then cook and eat them.

    He was convicted.  He’s currently incarcerated while a judge considers his request for a new trial.  I guess you can say he’s awaiting his chance for a second bite at the big apple (yes, the double-pun here is intentional).

    While incarcerated, like many prisoners he’s working at a prison job.  He’s earning 44 cents an hour while working.

    His job?  He’s one of the prison’s cooks.

    No, I’m not joking,

  • FBI Investigating “Cover Oregon”

    It’s about freaking time.   And for what it’s worth, so is the HHS Office of the Inspector General  – as well as the GAO and at least one Congressional committee.

    As most TAH readers probably remember, “Cover Oregon” was that “wonderful” healthcare insurance exchange developed by the state of Oregon.  It received $303M in Federal grants.

    By mid-December 2013 just under $160M had been spent to “develop” Cover Oregon’s website to allow online application for health insurance.  As of April 2014, that website had signed up precisely zero online applicants (approximately 200,000 did manage to sign up via a paper application processes).

    Oregon has since announced termination of that website, and that it will use that paragon of excellent function, HealthCare.gov, in the future as it’s healthcare exchange.  Those who signed up previously will have to reapply next year.

    I’m sure they’ll enjoy working their way through the Federal website.  Or maybe they’ll submit a paper application to the Federal government instead – just like tens of thousands of those who tried to apply at HealthCare.gov ended up needing to do.  (smile)

    It also appears that the folks who were running Cover Oregon may have misled Federal authorities to get that $303M in Federal funding.  In such programs, funding is typically provided incrementally, with evidence of progress required to receive the next grant.  Multiple sources indicate that Cover Oregon presented an unduly “rosy” picture of progress to Federal authorities to continue receiving Federal grant funding.

    The Oregonian has a good article on “Cover Oregon” and why it’s being investigated.  IMO, it’s worth reading – again, if you don’t have blood pressure or anger management issues.

    Stay tuned.  This one could get interesting.

    That said, I’m pessimistic that anyone will be held accountable.  After all, the FBI is part of the same DoJ that gave us “Fast and Furious”.  No one has been held accountable there yet.

    That unlawful “escapade” got people killed.  Given that fact – and the fact that no one was held accountable – what’s $303M in tax money lost to fraud?

  • Left Hand, Meet . . . the Other Left Hand

    Recently, the Department of the Interior announced it was granting “green energy” producers operating wind farms 30-year permits to kill eagles.  In essence, it was a recognition of the fact that such “green energy” programs are not free of significant detrimental environmental effects despite the claims to the contrary.

    The permits are likely essential.  There’s really no good way to keep birds from flying into such wind farms.  For this form of “green energy” to be viable the companies operating wind farms need legal protection.

    So, all is good, right?  Um, well . . . not exactly.

    It seems that an environmental group – the American Bird Conservancy – takes exception to this new rule.  They’ve announced their intent to file a Federal lawsuit over this new rule.  They’re alleging it’s a violation of three major environmental laws:  the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

    I think this one is gonna be fun to watch.  (smile)

  • Sinclair Pleads – to Some Charges

    We’ve featured BG Jeffrey A. Sinclair multiple times here at TAH; past articles are listed at the end of this one.  But it’s been a while.

    Well, it looks like the “good general” didn’t exactly have a good day in court recently.  Yesterday, he pleaded guilty to multiple charges against him – including adultery, possession of pornography, attempted fraternization, solicitation of nude photographs from subordinates, and attempting to impede an investigation.

    Yeah, I’d say he abused the hell out of his rank and position, and was preying on subordinates.  Bigtime.

    For those crimes, he’s facing a possible sentence of full forfeitures, Dismissal (for an officer, that’s the equivalent of a Dishonorable Discharge), and up to 15 years in prison.  In exchange for his guilty pleas, prosecutors apparently agreed to drop two other charges against Sinclair.

    Sinclair’s still fighting the most serious other charges against him – including charges of forcible sodomy and having sex in public places.   He’s also accused of using his rank/position to prolong his illicit affair with his primary accuser through threats and coercion.  If convicted on the remaining charges, he faces up to life in prison.

    Preying on subordinates and attempting to subvert lawful investigations isn’t exactly the kind of conduct we expect – and demand – of senior leaders, “General”.  I hope they dismiss your unethical, unworthy ass and send you to Leavenworth for at least a few years.

    Thanks to TAH reader SJ for the link to the Reuters story above.

     

    Previous TAH Sinclair articles:

    Officers and weird sex

    A Sinclair Update

    Another Sinclair Update

    Sinclair’s PR Site

    The Latest on Sinclair

    The Latest Sinclair Update