Dear Activist,
In a follow up story to the bombshell Spotlight Report into the deadly COVID-19 outbreak at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home, new reporting is raising more questions about the probe into the tragedy.
Last year, 76 veterans tragically died under the watch of Baker’s hand-picked, unqualified--but politically connected--superintendent. Baker alleged he had no role in the hiring process, a claim which was proven to be false. He later tapped a private attorney to conduct an “independent investigation,” which we now know was not independent, but designed to protect him.
That was just the start of Baker’s cover-up operation. Here are 5 things you might have missed from the Globe’s reporting on the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home outbreak:
1. Charlie Baker said he never met the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home superintendent before swearing him in. That was a lie.
Following the outbreak, Baker said of the superintendent, “I can tell you that the first time I ever met him or talked to him was when we swore him in.” However, Baker interviewed the then-candidate for the position himself, and made the final call to hand him the job. What did Baker say when confronted with the truth? “I forgot.”
2. Baker tried to cover up that the superintendent was a politically connected hire that could boost his chances of reelection.
Baker was covering up the fact that this was a calculated political appointment that put his electoral ambitions before the health and safety of veterans. The superintendent had no experience in health care, but he did have a politically connected family that could boost Baker’s support in western Massachusetts.
3. The private attorney Baker hired to conduct an ‘independent investigation’ was contracted to represent the interests of the Baker administration, not the public.
When Baker hired a private attorney to investigate the circumstances that led to the tragedy, the contract outlined an explicit attorney-client relationship that suggested the attorney was working for Baker, not the public. In fact, the letter for engagement between the firm and the Governor’s Office stated that the firm would “represent you zealously and act on your behalf to the best of our ability.”
4. The same investigation report was riddled with key errors and omissions that deflected blame from Baker and top officials.
When the report was released, it was found to contain significant holes, shielding Baker from blame and finding fault solely with lower-level administration officials. While the report found that the superintendent “was unqualified to lead the Soldiers Home,” it did not address how or why Baker appointed him to the position. Despite playing key roles in hiring and oversight at the home, Baker and top officials face no criticism in the report.
5. Charlie Baker has yet to take personal responsibility or offer answers for the tragedy at the Soldiers’ Home.
Caught in a web of lies, Baker is refusing to answer for his role in the events that led to the outbreak. Lawmakers, activists, and the families of those lost are demanding an explanation, but Baker’s offered the same tired platitudes. He has failed to take personal responsibility, pinning blame on lower-level administration officials.
Baker should be held accountable for his role in the tragedy at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home and his attempted cover-up. Join our calls demanding answers by sharing our posts on social media and sharing these stories with your networks.
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Sincerely,
Allison Mitchell
Communications Director
Massachusetts Democratic Party
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