FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2018
VA Sec. Against Prosecuting Army Vet for “Posting” U.S. Flag, Misled by Staff
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs was misled by his inner circle about a case involving an elderly Army veteran criminally prosecuted for displaying the American Flag at a southern California VA facility, documents obtained by Judicial Watch show. After seeing a news report about the preposterous case, VA Secretary David J. Shulkin asked his chief of staff, Vivieca Wright, to check if the story was correct, the documents show. In an electronic mail to his chief of staff, Shulkin writes that if the story is accurate “we should not be pressing charges and we should do a release saying so.” Shulkin adds: “I understand that media reports do not always tell the real story.”
Incredibly, the story is real. Rosebrock was federally charged for supposedly hanging a four-by-six-inch American Flag on the outside fence of a VA facility in West Los Angeles on Memorial Day in 2016. The fence is part of the “Great Lawn Gate” and marks the entrance to the Los Angeles National Veterans Park. The public facility is part of a larger, 388-acre parcel that includes the Veterans Home of West Los Angeles. Since 2008, Rosebrock and a group of fellow veterans have assembled at the gate weekly and on Memorial Day to protest the VA’s failure to make full use of the property to benefit veterans, particularly those who are homeless. Judicial Watch helped represent Rosebrock, who faced up to six months in jail for the ghastly offense of reportedly affixing Old Glory at a site honoring those who served their country. He was also charged with taking unauthorized photographs of both the Flag and VA police, but a judge ruled in mid-April that the charges violated the First Amendment. The Trump Department of Justice (DOJ) has appealed the dismissal of the two charges, however.
Rosebrock went to trial for the flag charges and on April 18, 2017 a California U.S. District Court ruled that he was not guilty of violating federal law for displaying the two small flags. If found guilty, he would have faced up to six months in prison. More than a month before the trial, VA Secretary Shulkin’s inner circle circulated numerous falsehoods about the case, including that Rosebrock made the choice to go to court rather than pay a fine and that he faced no jail time. Gathering information for their boss, the VA officials also asserted it was “too late” to intervene in the Rosebrock case and that it was “out of our hands” because the case was old even though the trial was weeks away. VA Deputy Undersecretary Steve Young is included in the email exchanges, which are dated March 4 and 5, 2017. In one email, Marie Weldon, director of the VA’s western healthcare network, tells Young that Rosebrock “was issued a citation from the VA Police and if he chose not to pay the fine then he elects to take it to court which is where it is now.” This is incorrect. Rosebrock had no choice to go to court because the feds were prosecuting him. Weldon adds that Rosebrock has a history of hanging even full-size flags upside down on the fence of VA property. “This was not a first offense and Rosebrock was aware of his consequences,” Weldon, who oversees the healthcare system for 1.2 million veterans, writes to Young.
In another email addressed to Weldon, Wright and Young, the director of the West L.A. VA, Ann Brown, writes: “Forgot to add—he is facing a $25 fine with NO jail time.” Less than 20 minutes later, Wright, the VA Secretary’s chief of staff, forwards the erroneous information to a redacted email address that appears to be her boss’s. Large chunks of type are redacted under federal exemptions throughout the documents, which were provided to Judicial Watch in response to a request for records about Rosebrock. A largely redacted email from Brown to Weldon, Wright and Young discloses that she “met with DOJ about 9 months ago to resolve this and we’re told…” The rest is redacted under exemptions that allow agencies to withhold deliberative process material and protect privacy. It’s unclear how much of the information made it back to Secretary Shulkin. The fact remains however, that high level VA officials responsible for gathering facts about a case for the agency’s secretary
instead circulated serious falsehoods.
==========================
In case you missed it, below is a link to Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton's appearance on One America News Network (OAN) on February 14th, 2018, where he discussed Barack Obama's connection to the phony 'Trump Dossier.'
(click on the image below or the link above)
Last night, JW Director of Investigations & Research Chris Farrell appeared on “Lou Dobbs Tonight” on the Fox Business Network to discuss FBI director Christopher Wray’s claim to the Senate Intelligence Committee that there is no bias at the FBI.
(click the image below or the link above)
==================================
For more information about the program, purpose or nomination process, visit www.grainbinsafetyweek.com or watch this video.
About Scoular
A 125-year old employee-owned company with nearly $5 billion in sales, Scoular’s 100+ independent business units provide diverse supply chain solutions for end-users and suppliers of grain, feed ingredients, and food ingredients around the globe. From 120 offices and grain-handling facilities in North America, South America, and Asia, 1000+ employees are engaged in the business of buying, selling, storing, handling, and processing grain and ingredients as well as managing transportation and logistics worldwide. Scoular was listed 81st on Forbes magazine’s 2017 America’s Largest Private Companies. www.scoular.com
About Nationwide
Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, commercial, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; banking and mortgages; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.
Nationwide, Nationwide is on your side and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2018 Nationwide.
PDF:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/n9j5wz4027587f8/SB%2091%20Senate%20hearing%20MA.pdf?dl=0
MEDIA ALERT
SB 91 to define shelter for companion animals in extreme weather scheduled in Senate Committee
WHAT: SB 91 – Animal Welfare Amendments sponsored by Sen. Gene Davis (D) to define shelter for domestic dogs and cats outside in extreme weather is on the agenda to be heard by the Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Committee Friday, Feb. 16 at 8 a.m. in room 250 at the State Capitol.
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 16 at 8 a.m.
SB 91 is third on the agenda
WHO: Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and Criminal Justice Standing Committee
WHERE: Utah State Capitol, room 250
350 North State Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
WHY: The current law is vague, and owners could face criminal charges depending on the interpretation of individual officers or prosecutors. A clearly defined law is necessary to help owners understand what they are required to provide for the humane treatment of their pets and to eliminate confusion among officers and the court so the law can be applied consistently.
“Currently, Utah law states that you must provide food, liquid water and shelter for a companion animal but there is no definition for shelter,” said Gene Baierschmidt, HSU executive director. “We are in support of amending the language to define what is considered adequate shelter and provide a better tool for animal control officers to educate pet owners.”
Media
Contact: Deann Shepherd: cell 801-747-9136, deann@utahhumane.org
###
About the Humane Society of Utah
The Humane Society of Utah is dedicated to the elimination of pain, fear and suffering in all animals. Since 1960, the HSU has been sheltering homeless animals, fighting cruelty and neglect, and creating an environment of respect, responsibility, and compassion for all animals across the state of Utah. HSU is the largest open-admission
private animal
shelter in the state
,
and welcomes any companion animal that can legally be admitted. As a member of the No-Kill Utah (NKUT) Coalition, the HSU works hard to ensure that every healthy and treatable pet that enters the facility will be placed into a loving home. The Humane Society of Utah is a local, private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that does not receive any state tax dollars or government funding. HSU is funded by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses and foundations. Read more about the HSU online at www.utahhumane.org.
