Thread by @DemocracyFwd

NEW: We and @VoteVets just sued the VA over a breathtakingly illegal scheme: empowering Mar-a-Lago members to steer Veterans Affairs policy from Trump’s golf club.

A thread explaining the case ⬇️ propublica.org/article/vetera…

@votevets We know Trump isn't fond of following the law. But secretly turning a ~$200 billion agency over to 3 unqualified Mar-a-Lago buddies who haven’t served in our military is a masterpiece of lawlessness that violates the Federal Advisory Committee Act. propublica.org/article/ike-pe…

@votevets Congress passed FACA in the early 1970s to formalize how outside advisers influence the president and federal agencies. It was meant to curb special interests' ability to covertly steer policymaking.

@votevets Under FACA, the gov must follow certain rules when using advisory committees, including when the committee is 3 unqualified resort buddies:
✓ Meetings must be public
✓ Documents must be released
✓ Conflicts of interest must be screened
✓ Diverse viewpoints must be represented

@votevets The Mar-a-Lago Council is an illegal advisory committee, and its members have exercised extraordinary control over the VA—starting as early as recommending David Shulkin to be Trump's first VA Secretary.

@votevets Once nominated, Shulkin regularly consulted the Mar-a-Lago Council and even flew down to Florida for meetings with its members at Trump’s golf club.

@votevets The Council advised Shulkin to privatize VA services, an issue of tremendous concern for veterans who fear the government transforming veterans' care from a solemn public duty into a private profit opportunity

@votevets And when the *VA Secretary* wanted to finalize a $10 billion contract for a massive IT overhaul, he had to fly back to Mar-a-Lago and win over the Council before he could sign on the dotted line.

@votevets Sometimes, the Council tried to turn a profit on its influence. When VA Secretary Shulkin rang the New York Stock Exchange’s closing bell to promote awareness about veteran suicide, Captain America was in tow to promote a Council member’s @Marvel movie.

@votevets @Marvel When the Mar-a-Lago Council soured on Shulkin, they had him fired. White House advisors made sure to utilize the Council in the search for a replacement Secretary.

@votevets @Marvel When the next VA Secretary, Robert Wilkie, took the job, who was there to greet him? A Mar-a-Lago Council member, whom Wilkie found waiting in his office on his very first day as acting-Secretary.

@votevets @Marvel Since then, emails uncovered by @ProPublica show Wilkie has already flown to Florida to meet the Mar-a-Lago Council at the President’s club.

@votevets @Marvel @ProPublica We're suing with @VoteVets to shut down the illegal Mar-a-Lago Council because ensuring the health and safety of America’s veterans isn’t a game for Trump’s club buddies to play between rounds of golf.

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