Ever heard of The Independence Fund (TIF)? Supposedly it’s a charity that helps and advocates America’s wounded warriors. In fact, it’s a political vehicle for Trumpism, and a cash cow for the family that runs it, according to a Mother Jones expose.
“Since he first ran for president,” Mother Jones says, Trump has used his association with TIF “to bolster the perception that he is a staunch ally of veterans.” TIF is run by Sarah Verardo, whose husband Mike is a disabled veteran. She didn’t start TIF; the Mother Jones article (read it here) describes how she took it over.
The Verardos are staunch Trump supporters, and Trump has repaid their kindness:
“In 2016, Trump invited the family to the Republican National Convention, where they watched the proceedings from a VIP box alongside his family. Six days before the election, Mike Verardo endorsed Trump in a front-page story in the New York Times. … Days later, veterans backed Trump by large margins, which played a key role in his wins in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.”
The Verardos have criticized Obama and supported Trump “reforms” that included privatizing V.A. services, busting unions, firing hundreds of low-level employees, and retaliating against whistleblowers. In return, Trump — and Fox News stars like Bill O’Reilly — have boosted the Verardos, which has made TIF “one of the most influential wounded-warrior groups in the United States. … The group today enjoys a plethora of influential supporters including corporate titans such as Boeing, UPS, and American Airlines; country music stars; conservative pundits; and members of Congress ….”
But behind the scenes is “years of improper spending and dubious charity work,” Mother Jones says. An analyst at CharityWatch described TIF’s accounting practices as “suspect,” and Mother Jones says Sarah Verardo “has quietly diverted TIF dollars to support her family’s lavish lifestyle.” A former staffer told Mother Jones, “The charity has basically become the Sarah Verardo Fund.” A former TIF officer said, “She travels like a Fortune 500 CEO,” flying first-class, staying at fancy hotels, attending country music events, and hobnobbing with celebrities.
To be fair, Mike Verardo was severely wounded in military service, losing two limbs, and Sarah Verardo’s TIF salary — about $160,000 a year — isn’t exorbitant by the standards of large charities, and top managers and full-time staff of organizations like VFW and American Legion are paid. One TIF staffer told Mother Jones she has “a good heart” but is “a poor financial manager” and insinuated she might be in over her head.
Sarah Verardo and Mike Verardo at the White House (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
TIF isn’t the first veterans charity to come under scrutiny for lavish spending; in 2015, the Wounded Warrior Project nearly collapsed after whistleblowers told similar stories, and the organization’s leaders were forced to resign. Read that story here.