Sen.: Mil-housing contractor 'fraud’

In a congressional hearing centered on contractor-run military family housing and families’ living conditions, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) suggested "there are clear indications of fraud” in the program, according to an ABC News report. Blumenthal described the situation as criminal May 7 during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing where military leaders testified about substandard housing. He has asked military leadership to bypass their internal audits and go straight to the Department of Justice about why contractors were allegedly not maintaining government housing while receiving funds for maintenance and rent. “They are landlords. They may be slumlords. They’ve counted on this … risk-free cash cow.” Military leaders agreed. “I think we should pursue any fraud and hold people accountable,” said Army Secretary Mark Esper. Navy Secretary Richard Spencer told the committee “once Navy audit has the data then DOJ would be involved." All four military services are preparing a joint Tenant Bill of Rights. (Source: ABC News 03/07/19)