U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) continues to violate her public, trust which already has linked her to the misappropriation of federal VA property that rewards her wealthy, powerful friends while punishing war-injured and impoverished homeless Veterans.
Now the senator has rewarded a U.S. Attorney who waged war against the landmark ACLU lawsuit that exposed what Veteran activists have known and openly protested for six years — that the VA is dealing in illegal real estate contracts.
Correspondingly, Sen. Feinstein has submitted a federal district judgeship recommendation to President Barack Obama on behalf of Andre Birotte Jr., the U.S. Attorney who defiantly fought the ACLU lawsuit that was filed against his clients, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki and Los Angeles VA executive director Donna M. Beiter, for the misuse of federal VA property.
This sacred land was exclusively deeded and entrusted to the U.S. government in 1888 for the sole purpose of establishing and permanently maintaining a National Soldiers Home for war-injured and needy Veterans.
Nevertheless, Mr. Birotte aggressively fought the ACLU lawsuit on behalf of his VA defendants and against the Plaintiffs, Vietnam Veterans of America and homeless Veterans.
On Aug. 29, 2013, U.S. District Judge S. James Otero legally confirmed what already had become common knowledge when he entered a federal judgment against Mr. Birotte’s clients for engaging in nine illegal real estate dealings at the Los Angeles VA that involved third-party non-Veteran entities.
To compound these duplicitous acts of ingratitude and disrespect toward disabled homeless Veterans, Mr. Birotte, who is not a Veteran, irreverently appealed the federal judgment on behalf of his VA defendants and at the added expense of the American taxpayer and the prolonged misery and suffering of tens of thousands of homeless Veterans in Los Angeles.
By the VA’s own admission, nearly half of all homeless Veterans today – 47 percent — are from the Vietnam War era that ended nearly 40 years ago.
John Rowan, National President of Plaintiff Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), added an even more sobering reminder: “Today, there are more homeless Veterans from the Vietnam War era than were killed during the war. These Veterans are elderly, frail and in declining health. They are being forced to live in deplorable circumstances. Make no mistake; VVA is fully committed to ending these inhumane living conditions by ensuring that our fellow Veterans get the quality housing and care they need and deserve.”
U.S. Atty. Birotte’s vindictive appeal of the federal judgment is morally, legally indefensible. Judge Otero unequivocally ruled that the VA defendants had violated the “clear and unambiguous” language of the law in all nine illegal real estate dealings.
Correspondingly, Sen. Feinstein, who is not a Veteran, is directly linked to at least two of the nine illegal contracts.
(To be continued)
Mr. Rosebrock may be contacted at RRosebrock1@aol.com
