Thread by @FPWellman

I've known Jim Byrne for years and the term Boy Scout comes up a lot about him. He went into this Admin wanting to serve veterans and gave up a great paying job for it. He was not prepared for the Machiavellian insanity that is the Trump Admin and the thin skinned SecVA.

https://twitter.com/NaveedAJamali/status/1329600018492379141

This story is even worse than what's printed. VA public affairs political appointees did try to shop dirt on the victim calling several reporters and as a testament to their profession none of them printed any of it. The idea that Crenshaw and Wilkie didn't talk is ridiculous.

They used the exact same "numbers" in separate sources. How did Wilkie know about these alleged 6 reports that Crenshaw mentioned months later? Crenshaw said he wouldn't slander the victim then he did it...on the record. A member of Congress smearing a professional staffer.

All Wilkie had to say is "I'm outraged that a veteran was assaulted in one of our facilities. I will work diligently to make sure this never happens again." That's it. That's what his PAO should have told him. But no. It was an attack on HIM! He fired Byrne to save himself.

How do you fire a Senate confirmed Deputy Secretary of the second largest federal agency without paperwork, evidence, a report to the Senate or approval from the President himself? I understand the "official" White House letter doesn't have letterhead or a signature. Why?

Did Trump know this was happening? Did @SecWilkie do a palace subterfuge game to get rid of his rival? How does his old aide from DOD, then Chief of Staff at VA end up as the Acting Deputy Secretary? Who is taking care of veterans while these stupid games are being played?

This story is a great start but there's many questions about how Wilkie has managed the VA. He has created a tense culture of fear and revenge against those who speak out. I'm glad he is out of there in 60 days. I hope he leaves sooner. We need a VA HQ that puts veterans first.