As Surgeon General, Rich Carmona Handed Taxpayers The Tab For Weekend Travel To His Home In California

‘Traveled To Vacation Home Frequently, Had Driver Pick-Up Dry Cleaning And Run Errands’

“…Carmona was taking advantage of official travel…” (“Testimony: Carmona Took Advantage of Perks of Office When Surgeon General,” The Weekly Standard, 11/1/12)

“…Carmona took full advantage of the perks of his job as a federal employee…” (“Testimony: Carmona Took Advantage of Perks of Office When Surgeon General,” The Weekly Standard, 11/1/12)

“Traveled to vacation home frequently, had driver pick-up dry cleaning and run errands…” (“Testimony: Carmona Took Advantage of Perks of Office When Surgeon General,” The Weekly Standard, 11/1/12)

TESTIMONY: “I was extremely concerned about the number of visits…Dr. Carmona has a summer home in Coronado Del Mar, near San Diego… conveniently, a lot of these travels would be over weekends.” (Dr. Cristina Beato, Testimony, US House Committee On Oversight, 11/2/07)

TESTIMONY: “I got word that the driver was going around picking up his [Carmona’s] dry cleaning, okay? I about fell out of my chair. And on my watch, I wasn’t going to have anything like that happen.” (Dr. Cristina Beato, Testimony, US House Committee On Oversight, 11/2/07)

“‘So these were concerns both of cost and of appearance?’ the questioner in the testimony asks Beato. Carmona’s former boss responds,‘Well, yes, absolutely. First of all, as to the budget, it’s taxpayers’ dollars.’” (“Testimony: Carmona Took Advantage of Perks of Office When Surgeon General,” The Weekly Standard, 11/1/12)

Carmona’s Congressional Motive: ‘Perks… A House And A Car’

“If a past interaction Kyl had with Carmona reveals a motive for the present, it is that the Democrat is seeking the Senate seat for the ‘perks of the office.’” (The Weekly Standard, 10/26/12)

SEN. JON KYL: “He seemed more concerned about the perks of the office…” (The Weekly Standard, 10/26/12)

SEN. JON KYL: “…he specifically asked about a house and a car…” (The Weekly Standard, 10/26/12)

SEN. JON KYL: “…he also seemed to think that it was just a lot of work for just two years… he thought, well, a position in the Senate would be a lot better to hold.” (The Weekly Standard, 10/26/12)

Carmona Spent 6 Years ‘Working’ At Luxurious Resort & Spa 

Carmona: “This was a wonderful opportunity for me.”(“Carmona To Teach, Work In Town After Job As U.S. Surgeon General,” The Arizona Daily Star, 10/2/06)

Carmona: ‘Perfect Fit’ “Carmona, who has been a long-time patron of Canyon Ranch and sometimes gave lectures there, described the job as a ‘perfect fit.’” (“Carmona To Teach, Work In Town After Job As U.S. Surgeon General,” The Arizona Daily Star, 10/2/06)

“…an international crowd of well-to-do health seekers…”(Fodor’s, Website Accessed 10/24/12)

“…supreme comfort.” (Canyon Ranch Website)

“…the gold standard for luxurious, healthy vacations.” (Spa Week, Website Accessed 10/24/12)

Carmona’s abuse of travel and staff was at heart of disagreements 

PHOENIX – In response to testimony from Dr. Cristina Beato, former Acting Assistant Secretary of Health at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Richard Carmona has lashed out and tried to discredit her.

Carmona claims: “I refused to politicize science, and that’s what the issue really is here” (KPNX, 10/11/12). But that’s not what the issue is.

On May 22, 2012 the Associated Press reported that “Emails that The Associated Press obtained through the Freedom of Information Act reinforce that there were tensions within HHS about where Carmona should go and what groups he should address. One email noted that Carmona made 19 trips in the first six months after taking office, 12 of them with stops inArizona, San Diego or both. ‘I think we have a real problem here,’ HHS employee Hal Thompson wrote.” Carmona owns homes in Arizona and San Diego.

Dr. Beato reiterated her testimony to Politico: “In the interview with POLITICO, Beato stood by her 2007 testimony. Beato said one of the issues that led to a midnight visit by Carmona involved his wish to visit the University of California, San Francisco, his alma mater, to receive an honorary degree. Beato alleged that Carmona wanted to pay for the trip using government funds, which she refused to allow.

“Not only does Richard Carmona not have the temperament to serve in the United States Senate, his refusal to be straight with voters raises serious questions about his honesty as well,” said Andrew Wilder, communications director for Flake for Senate.

On Thursday, the Flake campaign began airing an ad statewide on broadcast and cable featuring the personal testimony of Dr. Cristina Beato, who served as Acting Assistant Secretary of Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from 2003 to 2005. Dr. Beato recounts the night that Dr. Carmona angrily slammed on herdoor in the middle of the night in a rage to continue an argument that he started earlier that day.

A Spanish-language version of the ad is airing on Telemundo and Univision. Click this link to view the Spanish version: http://youtu.be/asPwBdD4hxU.

Background on Richard Carmona’s History of Confrontation

Dr. Cristina Beato Testified To Congress In 2007 About An Incident In Which She Felt Threatened By Richard Carmona 

During His Surgeon General Tenure, Carmona’s Boss, Cristina Beato, Alleged That He “Banged On Her Door And Yelled At Her In The Middle Of The Night.” “But behind the scenes, his former boss Cristina Beato — a onetime supporter turned bitter enemy — was painting a very different picture of Carmona for House investigators, alleging that an angry Carmona twice banged on her door and yelled at her in the middle of the night after workplace disputes.” (John Bresnahan and Manu Raju, “Richard Carmona Draws Fire From Another Former Boss,” Politico, 5/21/12)

• With Her Two Children Inside, Beato “Refused To Open The Door Because She Was Frightened Of His Behavior.” “Beato’s most eye-opening accusation involves two incidents in which she says Carmona banged on her door at her house in the middle of the night, screaming at her over issues the two disagreed on. Beato, a single mother with two children, said she refused toopen the door because she was frightened of his behavior. The two lived in the same neighborhood on the National Institute of Health campus at the time.” (John Bresnahan and Manu Raju, “Richard Carmona Draws Fire From Another Former Boss,” Politico, 5/21/12)

• “‘I Think Any Normal Woman, When Somebody Comes In At Midnight Demanding And Raising Their Voice, Would Feel Threatened,’ Beato Said In The Interview.” (John Bresnahan and Manu Raju, “Richard Carmona Draws Fire From Another Former Boss,” Politico, 5/21/12)

Beato Alleged Carmona Was An “Extremely Angry” Person And A “Living Nightmare” To Work With. “Beato gave her testimony in secret in 2007, saying Carmona was an ‘extremely angry’ person, a ‘living nightmare’ to work with, had trouble working for a female supervisor and abused travel privileges by improperly billing taxpayers forsome personal expenses, according to the testimony. When POLITICO contactedBeato recently, she confirmed her testimony and reiterated her accusations on the record, five years after she originally gave them to the House committee.” (John Bresnahan and Manu Raju, “Richard Carmona Draws Fire From Another Former Boss,” Politico, 5/21/12)

Carmona Declined Interviews On The Matter. “Carmona declined several interview requests for this story, but campaign aides furiously denied the allegations.” (John Bresnahan and Manu Raju, “Richard Carmona Draws Fire From Another Former Boss,” Politico, 5/21/12)

Carmona Was Also Accused Of Being “Manipulative” And A “Liar” 

Beato: “Dr. Carmona Is Not A Team Player. Dr. Carmona, Within 6 Or 8 Months, Had Burned Bridges Everywhere.” DR. CRISTINA BEATO: “The second thing is we had a very ambitious agenda, and I specifically wanted to work on the issues of disparities. Dr. Carmona is not a team player. Dr. Carmona, within 6 or 8 months, had burned bridges everywhere, and he did not have comradery within the Department or within other departments.” (Committee On Oversight And Government Reform, U.S. House Of Representatives, Testimony Of Cristina Beato, 11/2/07, Page 44)

Beato: “[B]ut Never Have I Dealt With Anyone Who Was A Liar As Much As Dr. Carmona Was.” DR. CRISTINA BEATO: “I was the Chief Medical Officer in a large academic center, and I have dealt with difficult personalities — chairs of neurosurgery, chairs of surgery — but never have I dealt with anyone who was a liar as much as Dr. Carmona was. He would tell me things about a trip that turned out not to be true. He would tell me things about officers that turned out not to be true.” (Committee On Oversight And Government Reform, U.S. House Of Representatives, Testimony Of Cristina Beato, 11/2/07, Page 46)

Beato: “Dr. Carmona Is Manipulative, And He’s A Liar.” DR. CRISTINA BEATO: “I had an extremely difficult time. And I have kept my mouth shut for years, because, first and foremost, I’m a physician, and I believe my professionalism will not allow that. But Dr. Carmona is manipulative, and he’s a liar.” (Committee On Oversight And Government Reform, U.S. House Of Representatives, Testimony Of Cristina Beato, 11/2/07, Page 46)

Dr. Cristina Beato: “Carmona Has A Strong Personality That’s Totally Dysfunctional And Not Professional And Certainly Not Ethical.” (Committee On Oversight And Government Reform, U.S. House Of Representatives, Testimony Of Cristina Beato, 11/2/07, Page 86)

Carmona Was Accused Of Having A Serious Problem With Women In The Workplace 

Dr. Cristina Beato: “Dr. Carmona Also Had A Very Difficult Time Having A Female Hispanic Supervisor. He And I, Behind Closed Doors, Clashed Frequently. I Would Never Do This In Public, But He Insulted Me. He Tried To Belittle Me.” DR. CRISTINA BEATO: “Dr. Carmona was very, very brilliant, and he worked very hard. Dr. Carmona also had a very difficult time having a female Hispanic supervisor. He and I, behind closed doors, clashed frequently. I would never do this in public, but he insulted me. He tried to belittle me.” (Committee On Oversight And Government Reform, U.S. House Of Representatives, Testimony Of Cristina Beato, 11/2/07, Page 45)

• Dr. Cristina Beato: “I Experienced Sexism From Him.” (Committee On Oversight And Government Reform, U.S. House Of Representatives, Testimony Of Cristina Beato, 11/2/07, Page 45)

• Dr. Cristina Beato: “He Was An Extremely Angry Person. And He Would Walk Out The Door And Put On A Smile. I Have Never Seen Such Dysfunctionality In My Life.” (Committee On Oversight And Government Reform, U.S. House Of Representatives, Testimony Of Cristina Beato, 11/2/07, Page 45)

Beato: “He Has Problems With Women, Serious Problems With Women.” CRISTINA BEATO: “And he has problems with women, serious problems with women. And he could not stand the fact that I was going to beASH. He tried to undermine my nomination several times, both on the Hill here — because I know my Senator that sponsored me — as well as in the White House. He’d try to go in — and people would tell me this, you know. It wastotally unprofessional, totally unprofessional.” (Committee On Oversight And Government Reform, U.S. House Of Representatives, Testimony Of Cristina Beato, 11/2/07, Page 48)

Beato: “It Was A Living Nightmare. It Was A Living Nightmare.” (Committee On Oversight And Government Reform, U.S. House Of Representatives, Testimony Of Cristina Beato, 11/2/07, Page 48)

Carmona Also Had A Confrontation With A Female Colleague When He Was Head Of The Pima County Health System 

Campoy, A County Health Commissioner, Reported To The County Attorney That A Doctor Had A Drug Abuse Problem And Was Writing False Prescriptions; Carmona “Had Already Dealt With The Doctor On The Issue Two Years Before.” “His final battle there came in a dispute in May 1999 with county health commissioner Sylvia Campoy, who had reported to the county attorney allegations that a Kino doctor with a drug abuse problem had written false prescriptions to access drugs. Carmona had already dealt with the doctor on the issue two years before, and after an internal investigation, encouraged the doctor to report himself to the Board of Medical Examiners.” (Ann-Eve Pedersen and Megan Garvey, “Squaring Off Over Nominee,” Los Angeles Times, 7/8/02)

“After Campoy Reported The Allegations, Carmona Became Irate, Saying She Had Violated The Accused Doctor’s Confidentiality, an opinion shared by the Kino Community hospital board and the Pima County medical society.” (Ann-Eve Pedersen and Megan Garvey, “Squaring Off Over Nominee,” Los Angeles Times, 7/8/02)

“‘What I Got From Dr. Carmona [After Reporting The Case] Was Antagonism And . . . Threats,’ Campoy Later Told An Investigator From The Arizona Department Of Public Safety’s Prescription Fraud Unit, according to a state Board of Medical Examiners document obtained through Arizona’s public records law. ‘I was screamed at, I was yelled at. I was told it was none of my business. I was told that I had breached peer review.’” (Ann-Eve Pedersen and Megan Garvey, “Squaring Off Over Nominee,” Los Angeles Times, 7/8/02)

Carmona Bullied A Female Nurse When He Was A Director At The Tucson Medical Center 

“Court And Hospital Records Show A History Of Conflicts Between Carmona And Other Doctors, Who Complained About His Lack Of Cooperation, ‘High Handedness,’ ‘Unwillingness To Communicate’ And ‘His Escalation Of Disagreements In An Effort To Prove He Was Right.’” (Ann-Eve Pederson and Megan Garvey, “Squaring Off Over Nominee,” Los Angeles Times, 7/8/02)

“In One Case, Hospital Administrators Cited His ‘Bullying’ Of A Nurse Who Said He Failed To Diagnose A Young Boy’s Skull Fracture In 1991.” (Ann-Eve Pederson and Megan Garvey, “Squaring Off Over Nominee,” Los Angeles Times, 7/8/02)

Carmona Retaliated By Demanding Angie Calvino’s Resignation Because She Complained About Him. “Carmona demanded Angie Calvino’s resignation after she complained to colleagues about his medical judgment, rather than reporting her concerns to the hospital’s confidential peer review committee, court records show.” (Ann-Eve Pederson and Megan Garvey, “Squaring Off Over Nominee,” Los Angeles Times, 7/8/02)

“In A Mediated Agreement, Calvino Agreed To A Demotion If Carmona Did Not Report Her To The State Nursing Board For Not Following Protocol, According To Those Familiar With The Case.” (Ann-Eve Pederson and Megan Garvey, “Squaring Off Over Nominee,” Los Angeles Times, 7/8/02)

“However, Court Records Show That A Few Months Later Carmona Did Report Her, And Calvino Remained Demoted.” (Ann-Eve Pederson and Megan Garvey, “Squaring Off Over Nominee,” Los Angeles Times, 7/8/02)

Despite Troubled Past With Tucson Medical, Kino Community Hospital Brought Carmona Aboard – Where He Immediately Clashed With The Longtime Chief Of Surgery Who Proceeded To Resign Because Of Carmona’s Management Style 

“Two Years Later, Carmona Was Hired As Chief Executive Officer And Medical Director Of Kino Community Hospital In Tucson.” (Ann-Eve Pederson and Megan Garvey, “Squaring Off Over Nominee,” Los Angeles Times, 7/8/02)

“There He Clashed Repeatedly With The Hospital’s Longtime Chief Of Surgery, Eric Ramsay.” (Ann-Eve Pederson and Megan Garvey, “Squaring Off Over Nominee,” Los Angeles Times, 7/8/02)

“They Fought Over Staffing And The Residency Program.” (Ann-Eve Pederson and Megan Garvey, “Squaring Off Over Nominee,” Los Angeles Times, 7/8/02)

“Internal memos made available to The Times also show that Carmona chastised Ramsay for maintaining offices that were ‘dirty and unkempt without the slightest bit of an attempt to tidy’ them.” (Ann-Eve Pederson and Megan Garvey, “Squaring Off Over Nominee,” Los Angeles Times, 7/8/02)

“After Working Under Carmona For A Year Ramsay Resigned, Ending A 37-Year Association With The Hospital.” (Ann-Eve Pederson and Megan Garvey, “Squaring Off Over Nominee,” Los Angeles Times, 7/8/02)

Ramsay Blasted Carmona In His Letter Dated The Same Day He Quit: 

Ramsay To Carmona: “Never in my entire medical career have I seen such gross interference by a hospital administrator without the slightest attempt to reach a cooperative understanding.” (Ann-Eve Pederson and Megan Garvey, “Squaring Off Over Nominee,” Los Angeles Times, 7/8/02)

Ramsay To Carmona: “Clearly you need a lot of help and instruction in how to manage your current position for which you have had no training or previous experience.” (Ann-Eve Pederson and Megan Garvey, “Squaring Off Over Nominee,” Los Angeles Times, 7/8/02)

For more information on Jeff Flake and why he’s running for the U.S. Senate, please visit his website at www.JeffFlake.com.

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