Chief exec of MA hospital interrogated by FBI for trying to keep feds from heisting PPE Order.

[onecaliberal]

Link to tweet

?s=21

[DBoon]

1. From the original article in the NEJM:

A lead came from an acquaintance of a friend of a team member. After several hours of vetting, we grew confident of the broker’s professional pedigree and the potential to secure a large shipment of three-ply face masks and N95 respirators. The latter were KN95 respirators, N95s that were made in China. We received samples to confirm that they could be successfully fit-tested. Despite having cleared this hurdle, we remained concerned that the samples might not be representative of the bulk of the products that we would be buying. Having acquired the requisite funds — more than five times the amount we would normally pay for a similar shipment, but still less than what was being requested by other brokers — we set the plan in motion. Three members of the supply-chain team and a fit tester were flown to a small airport near an industrial warehouse in the mid-Atlantic region. I arrived by car to make the final call on whether to execute the deal. Two semi-trailer trucks, cleverly marked as food-service vehicles, met us at the warehouse. When fully loaded, the trucks would take two distinct routes back to Massachusetts to minimize the chances that their contents would be detained or redirected.

Hours before our planned departure, we were told to expect only a quarter of our original order. We went anyway, since we desperately needed any supplies we could get. Upon arrival, we were jubilant to see pallets of KN95 respirators and face masks being unloaded. We opened several boxes, examined their contents, and hoped that this random sample would be representative of the entire shipment. Before we could send the funds by wire transfer, two Federal Bureau of Investigation agents arrived, showed their badges, and started questioning me. No, this shipment was not headed for resale or the black market. The agents checked my credentials, and I tried to convince them that the shipment of PPE was bound for hospitals. After receiving my assurances and hearing about our health system’s urgent needs, the agents let the boxes of equipment be released and loaded into the trucks. But I was soon shocked to learn that the Department of Homeland Security was still considering redirecting our PPE. Only some quick calls leading to intervention by our congressional representative prevented its seizure. I remained nervous and worried on the long drive back, feelings that did not abate until midnight, when I received the call that the PPE shipment was secured at our warehouse.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2010025

[The Magistrate]

2. This Simply Must Be Stopped, Sir

By any means necessary.

At present, there is no reason to doubt the cheap thug with the hairspray crown is not engaged in blackmarketeering to line his own pockets with kickbacks, in the condition of artificial scarcity this lawless behavior creates.

If federals are going to confiscate anything, they should confiscate from brokers or even manufacturers, and distribute gratis to hospitals and assisted care facilities what they have commandeered.


"Defeat of a hated enemy is something to be for."

[onecaliberal]

5. It defies belief that in the midst of the terrible suffering and death

The president, who should be moving heaven and earth to get hospitals and essential workers everything they need. Especially considering their lives depend on it. Not only is he failing to get it for them, he’s actively seeking to ensure they are in fact denied the materials.

[cayugafalls]

8. It should be considered Criminal and put forth as such.

There is no reason for our government to be acting as pirate for legally purchased goods.

These are not black market purchases, they are just being done as quietly as possible to avoid the ears of the pirate thief.

[iluvtennis]

12. + agree. nt

[Pillow talk]

18. his allies and no doubt, himself are making bank here. only sociopaths are this inhuman

[DENVERPOPS]

26. Why would you think for a minute

that the brokers and manufacturers aren't all in on grifting their share????????

[The Magistrate]

30. I Am Sure They Are, Sir

It is one reason commandeering their stocks would not trouble me. But everyone stealing must pay a share to the kingpin generally, and that is the cheap thug with the hairspray crown.


"Defeat of a hated enemy is something to be for."

[EleanorR]

3. Very russia-like

Trump needs those supplies to dole out to those who do his bidding. "I need you to do me a favor though."

[onecaliberal]

10. Yes: in some cases he sends it out of the country. Like Saudi Arabia.

[uponit7771]

11. +1

[bluestarone]

4. SCARY times here

These fuckers have to be stopped

[eShirl]

6. thuggery

[CousinIT]

7. Duplicate

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213310740

(but yea - deserves several airings here because it's SO hideous!)

[littlemissmartypants]

31. Duplicates only count in the Latest Breaking News Group, found here:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1014

You can post as many iterations of anything in General Discussion as you like with NO consideration of duplicates.

❤ lmsp

[smirkymonkey]

9. Arghhhhhhh!

I'm so angry I can't even speak!

When did we go 3rd world dictatorship? They aren't even trying to hide their corruption anymore. It's just all one big heist financed by us, the taxpayers.

[bucolic_frolic]

13. Contracts and private property ain't what they were pre-Trump

See what scarcity and black market does to you?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

14. Barr at work. Intimidation from tRump and his cabinet. Wow, but not surprising. . . nt

[Hermit-The-Prog]

27. We have to assume the entire Executive branch is corrupt.

From Barr's Dirt Services (formerly Department of Justice) to the USDA, if trumPutin has touched it, it's corrupted.

[ashredux]

15. WTF....damn, it IS a crime family...?

It is a if Fredo somehow took over the family

[LiberalArkie]

19. Yes

[jalan48]

16. Can we get an immediate hearing started in Congress about this? If the Republicans can

investigate Benghazi endlessly we should at least be able to make this last until November.

[DENVERPOPS]

28. I am sorry to say,

but the Dems in Congress aren't raising near the uproar with the truth, as the RepubliCONS are with their constant lies and daily TV Trumphumper campaign rally...........

This is so ludicrous. Every day, Trump is allowed to get hours of free time to blather his anti-dem bullshit rally on national TV....

And who out there want to disagree with me that 80+% of all Media in the U.S. is owned by wealthy RepubliCONs
Including the bias shown on ABC NBC CBS MSNBC CNN etc etc etc....The only reason MSNBC allows Rachel is that she is a HUGE cash cow and brings in a ton of money for them. And if there is one thing we should know about RepubliCONs is that money speaks even louder than Party Loyalty.......

It totally boggles any sane person's mind...........It's like Alice in Wonderland and Twilight Zone all rolled into one humongous freak show....

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

17. Why is Fat Donnie not challenged about this at his daily presser/rally?

Be sure to have the facts -- which states and hospitals have had their goods stolen -- and push him to explain why he's doing this when he's directing the governors to take their own action to get medical supplies. Have him say exactly where the confiscated goods go. Give the issue of stolen shipments national exposure. Right now it is ignored, even by the MSM.

[scarletwoman]

20. Needs must be done! It really is long overdue to be brought up by the press.

This is not the only instance of this is happening.

[onecaliberal]

21. I've tweeted the major networks mulitple time since last week. We were hearing about matieral

heists from the states by the federal government. My tweets are magically deleted and I am shadow banned.

[DENVERPOPS]

29. Surprise surprise

see # 28..........

[whathehell]

23. Good question!

[Botany]

22. 100% mob operation

"Hey you got our stuff?"

[rustysgurl]

24. Profiteering

It is in these asshats' very nature to seek out a means by which to make more money. And if that means undercutting the very entities you are criticizing for not doing enough (state and local officials), well that's just a little detail we'll overlook. That a medical professional is interviewed by FBI agents for simply trying to procure needed supplies "by any means necessary" is unconscionable.

I can guarantee you that Trump, or someone he knows, or someone in his family, is making money off this debacle. No doubt about it.

[dhol82]

25. This is just sooooo fucking mind boggling!

[Blue Owl]

32. Can you believe this fucking shit?

To hell with these thugs!