Trump Administration Defends Legality Of VA Shadow Rulers

[DonViejo]

By Isaac Arnsdorf ProPublica
November 21, 2018 2:19 pm

In a court filing, government lawyers argued that a Watergate-era sunshine law doesn’t apply to three Trump associates influencing the VA from Mar-a-Lago.

The Trump administration is defending the legality of having three Trump associates help steer the Department of Veterans Affairs from the president’s Mar-a-Lago resort, asserting that a Watergate-era sunshine law on advisory committees shouldn’t apply.

In a court filing last week, the government lawyers argued in part that the trio didn’t fit the law’s definition of an advisory committee because rather than being under the agency’s control, the three men reportedly wielded influence over the agency.

“Far from alleging that the department managed or controlled the three individuals, the complaint asserts quite the opposite: that the three individuals asserted influence over the department,” Justice Department lawyers said in the filing, which was submitted on Friday.

The government asked a judge to throw out a challenge from a liberal activist group, VoteVets, which alleged that the VA’s interactions with the so-called Mar-a-Lago Crowd violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The 1972 law, known as FACA, requires federal agencies to inform the public when they consult outside experts.

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https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-administration-defends-legality-veterans-affairs-shadow-rulers

[Lochloosa]

1. Oh FFS.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

2. K&R

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

3. Sleazy fuckers