Warren Questions Mar-a-Lago Members on Influence Over Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Friday, February 08, 2019
U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren sent an oversight letter to three Mar-a-Lago club members, including Ike Perlmutter, Dr. Bruce Moskowitz, and Marc Sherman.
The letter seeks information on whether the three personally profited from their involvement in and knowledge of decision-making at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Read the Letter Here
"Although you reportedly had access to and influence over key agency decisions and decision-makers, you were reportedly not subject to any of the conflicts-of-interest and other ethics rules that apply to government employees. As a result, I am concerned that you may have had the opportunity to profit from your arrangement, including possibly by engaging in trades or other actions to enrich yourselves or other third parties using nonpublic information that you obtained from VA officials,” wrote Warren.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe senator asked that the men respond to her letter by no later than Friday, February 15, 2019.
Investigating Mar-a-Lago
Warren’s letter comes after a recent report that the three men had widespread and undue influence on VA contracting and budgeting.
According to a December 2018 report by ProPublica, the three Mar-a-Lago members were heavily involved in a "multibillion-dollar effort to overhaul electronic health records for millions of veterans," which included reviewing a confidential draft of a $10 billion government contract for the electronic records project and attempting to persuade the VA and Apple to accept Moskowitz's app to carry out the project.
ProPublica reports show that the three men have been involved in or aware of VA decisions affecting at least four publicly traded companies, including Cerner
Previous Investigation Request
Warren and Senator Brian Schatz initially requested an investigation by the VA Inspector General and Government Accountability Office in August of 2018.
In November 2018, the GAO announced that it had accepted the senators' request for an investigation into the Mar-a-Lago trio's interference in VA decision-making, but the IG declined to open an investigation, informing the senators that it would "continue monitoring the situation."
In December 2018, following the new reports in ProPublica, Warren and Schatz reiterated their request for the VA Inspector General to investigate the matter.
Related Slideshow: PHOTOS: Inauguration Day - January 1, 2019
Related Articles
- Warren Questions Suitability of Health & Human Services Secretary Designate
- Warren Buffett Says Only 2-3 Newspapers Will Survive
- Warren Questions Labor Secretary Nominee Acosta Before Confirmation Hearing
- Sen. Warren Expands Investigation Into Equifax Breach
- Sen. Warren Asks Government Accountability Office to Review Trump’s Transition
- Senator Warren Sends Blistering Letter to Trump’s Transition Team
- Bob Whitcomb’s Digital Diary: Trump and Clinton, Raimondo’s CA Developer, and Warren’s Greatness
- Sen. Warren Addresses Election of Donald Trump to AFL-CIO
- Warren Urges FCC to Abandon Plan to Kill Net Neutrality
- Linden Place Mansion to Host Lecture on the History of Slavery in Warren
- Senator Warren Calls for Investigation into Drug Manufacturers Alleged Price Fixing Schemes
- Warren Blasts Pfizer for Hiking Prices on Prescription Drugs
- Lawless on “Immediate Backlash” to Judge’s Harsh Rebuke of Flynn; Prospects for Sanders and Warren
- Sen. Warren Calls for Investigation Into Raimondo’s Husband’s Firm McKinsey & Co
- Warren, Markey Urge National Grid to Ensure Locked-Out Workers Help with Merrimack Valley Recovery
- Patriot Great Campaigns For Elizabeth Warren’s Opponent
- Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School Receives $50 Million Gift
- Diehl Blasts Senator Warren for “Failing New Bedford”
- On-Ramp from Warren Ave to I-195 West Closed This Weekend
