My Side of the Story: Robert Weaver, President Trump’s Former Nominee for Indian Health Service Director
Until a few days ago, I was
I'm not a politician. Native American health and wellness are my passion and mission. That may in part explain how I was completely blindsided during the nomination process by someone's malicious actions. Unfortunately, my nomination was derailed after the public release, by someone in the government, of an unauthorized, "work-in-process" personal background draft document to one of our Tribal health organizations. They then sent this out to their entire list of members. Predictably, it made its way to the press, culminating in a savage but error-laden attack on my honesty, character and good name by various news outlets.
If the press had access to my authentic background or the confidential information I actually submitted, much of this would have been cleared up immediately. Unfortunately, this never happened. Additionally, some journalists were less than scrupulous in trying to find the whole truth.
I am now forced to walk away from a much-desired opportunity for public service. But before I go, I would at least like to put the truth on the record -- to rebut the false accusations against me, and to add some much-needed context to the half-true ones.
First, I've been accused of saying I have a college degree even though I don't have one. This is simply untrue. I have never claimed or represented myself as obtaining a college degree. I don't regret not finishing college, and it clearly didn't hold me back from success.
The second accusation against me was that I padded my resume, overstating the role I played as a full–time employee at
"The Patient Access Coordinator is responsible for coordinating, monitoring, and performing activities of personnel engaged in the follow-up and collection of insurance portion of third-party claims and accounts provides technical advice and support to all Patient Access/Registrations staff, provides input to Manager indicated regarding operation aspects."
This was a leadership role. By the way, this job description was signed, by two men quoted in the media.
Numerous people can speak against those who have maligned me regarding the role I played at
As an aside, I never told HHS that all my documents were destroyed by the horrific 2011 Joplin tornado or that being a patient at an IHS hospital as a child qualified me to run the agency. While
The third accusation against me was that I hid my time as an employee of
With respect to my entire employment history, including my tenure at
There were also questions regarding my personal finances that muddied the water around my nomination. I declared personal bankruptcy in 2001 at the age of 23 because I made some poor financial decisions in my late teens and early twenties. This happened before I got married, had four children, made millions of dollars, and started multiple businesses that have served the healthcare needs of some 16,000
Two tax liens were filed against one of my businesses in 2010. This occurred because an employee concealed the fact that payroll taxes were not paid for three quarters. After discovery, this person was immediately dismissed, the tax payments addressed, and the liens lifted. The business itself was never in any financial trouble.
I was also alleged to have personally donated
The allegations raised against me in the media are baseless, irrelevant, and in the most important cases simply incorrect. Congestion in the
Meanwhile, it is my hope that someday Indian Country will be given a permanent Indian Health Service Director that the "swamp or deep state" of
This is a continuation of the article published by Native News Online dated 2-24-18.
Part II, quotes and additional information on this topic can be read in a second article published by Native News Online dated 2-26-18.
Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2018/03/prweb15258995.htm
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