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Related: About this forumRep. Tammy Duckworth takes apart IRS Contractor who Claimed Veterans Disability, - Epic Smackdown !
On Wednesday, Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a veteran of the Iraq War, dramatically chastised a federal contractor who claimed that a high school sports injury had rendered him a service-disabled veteran.
Speaking during a hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Duckworth vividly described to a committee witness, Braulio Castillo, how she lives in near constant pain after losing both of her legs during her service as a combat pilot.
Castillo cited his foot injury, suffered at a military prep school, as the basis for his IT company's application for special status as a "service-disabled veteran-owned small business." The application was granted, and his company, Strong Castle, was given preferential treatment in federal contract bids.
"Does your foot hurt?" Duckworth asked Castillo, who answered yes.
"My feet hurt too," said Duckworth. "In fact, the balls of my feet burn continuously, and I feel like there's a nail being hammered into my heel right now. So I can understand pain and suffering, and how service connection can actually cause long-term, unremitting, unyielding, unstoppable pain."
"I'm sorry that twisting your ankle in high school has now come back to hurt you in such a painful way, if also opportune for you to gain this status for your business," she added.
Over a six-month period in 2012, Strong Castle won contracts with the Internal Revenue Service worth as much as $500 million. Wednesday's hearing followed a damning report that detailed how a senior IRS agent helped Castillo win the government business. The IRS agent in question, Greg Roseman, was dismissed from the hearing after he exercised his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
But the high point of the exchange between Duckworth and Castillo was a letter, read by the congresswoman, in which Castillo told a government official that his foot injury was "due to my service to this great country, and I would do it again to protect this great country."
"I'm so glad that you would be willing to play football at prep school again to protect this great country," Duckworth said sarcastically.
"Shame on you, Mr. Castillo. Shame on you. You may not have broken any laws ... but you have broken the trust of this great nation," she said
midnight
(26,624 posts)eggplant
(3,913 posts)I wanted to see her beat the living hell out of this guy for at least another 20. She was great.
Overseas
(12,121 posts)joanbarnes
(1,723 posts)ScottLand
(2,485 posts)He should be thankful that she couldn't get over to him. WOW!!!
DFW
(54,435 posts)Especially when she lost to a sleazebag who accused her of supporting a "cut and run" policy in Iraq. She lost both her legs in Iraq, and her Republican opponent never saw a day of combat in his life. I was thrilled when she finally beat that lowlife Walsh and brought some honor back to that district.
While she lost her legs, she never lost her character, and she is tough as nails .
In case anyone wonders why she has a sightly Oriental look, by the way, she said her mother was Thai.
Iwillnevergiveup
(9,298 posts)I don't live in Tammy's district, but sure am glad I sent her money. For once, "smackdown" was no exaggeration. Even Issa was caught off guard.