BREAKING: Inspector general finds that Trump health deputy SEEMA VERMA’s publicity contracts broke federal rules.
politico.com/news/2020/07/1… with @adamcancryn
Verma spent $5M-plus on contracts that were halted by POLITICO investigation.
politico.com/news/2020/07/1… with @adamcancryn
Verma spent $5M-plus on contracts that were halted by POLITICO investigation.
Verma hired GOP consultants to write her speeches, book her media — and do her tweets — despite having comms office staffed with 200+ civil servants.
Taxpayer $$ went to allies and longtime GOPers, including former head of Trump’s presidential transition. politico.com/news/2020/07/1…
Taxpayer $$ went to allies and longtime GOPers, including former head of Trump’s presidential transition. politico.com/news/2020/07/1…
Verma testified to Congress last year that the contracts were focused on promoting the agency, not her, sparking this fight with @RepJoeKennedy, who said the $$ was wasted and better spent on providing health care to kids.
But Verma’s contractors looked for ways to raise her profile. One taxpayer-funded plan was for Verma to get profiled in Glamour and other magazines, invited to prestigious events like the Kennedy Center Honors and named on “Power Women” lists. politico.com/news/2019/11/2…
Here’s @adamcancryn + my original investigation from March 2019, which detailed Verma’s reliance on GOP consultants for traveling around the country, networking around DC, and scripting her tweets and speeches: politico.com/story/2019/03/…
