Evidence of Corruption of the F-35 Burlington Basing Process
Derived from the U. S. AIR FORCE ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD OF THE F-35A OPERATIONAL BASING SELECTION PROCESS 2009-2013
SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY’S INTERFERENCE IN THE F-35 BASING DECISION
Cray to Clark (3-12-10) “Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, who, as one of the most senior members of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee and Co-Chair of the Senate National Guard Caucus, has led a decades’ long effort to ensure that the Vermont Air National Guard has the finest facilities, equipment, and training, and, in doing so, position Vermont to compete well for this important aspect of our national defense system.” #40700
Bacon to Blankenship (7-27-10) “I heard from Sen Leahy’s staff today and they are looking at a 9 Aug date to meeting here in DC. The point of this meeting is to get all players together (Burlington ANG, ACC, and Air Staff) to [sic] all to the personal staffers (JP Dowd and Will Goodman) about noise abatement as it relates to the city of Burlington, VT… Sounds like Burlington already has all the answers. Pooter has been working this issue for a while.” #43700
Ormsby to ACC/A8F (8-3-10) “Sen Leahy’s office is requesting that we send an O-4 to O-6 level rep to attend an F-35 noise abatement meeting in DC on 9 Aug.” #43700
Bacon to Chatman (8-3-10) “I’ve been tasked to provide representatives to attend a meeting on Capitol Hill regarding Noise Abatement Procedures, specifically aimed at Burlington, VT. Several staffers, at the request of Sen Leahy, have asked that we, along with representatives from Burlington VT and ACC, sit down to discuss what is being done to address noise concerns from the local populace.” #43777
Engelman to Chatman (8-9-10) “I have sent an email to my “bosses.” I have suggested that we let IEI know that staffers are asking about things, and what they might hear from Burlington Guard folks may not be the same as what IEI tells them. (I have been told that we need to do a bit of a noise 101, and discussion of what the noise contours at these installations really mean before the draft documents are released.)” #43777
