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“I quit. Friday I walk away from the company I started 20 years ago and grew into 650 U.S. employees and $1 billion in sales of over 100 new medical devices. I didn’t quit because I’m old–I’m 56–or want to play golf. The reason I sold my company and ended a career I loved is to avoid the risk of being criminally prosecuted under the federal government’s “responsible corporate officer” doctrine for the second time.” ~ Howard Root, WSJ

By Catherine Austin Fitts

Inasmuch as a heroic tale with a happy ending always inspires us, you will enjoy our next Solari Report.

Meet Howard Root, founder and former CEO of Vascular Solutions, Inc. Howard started Vascular Solutions with an idea and $300. He sold it last month to Teleflex, Inc. for $1 billion. Along the way, he defended himself and his company against an unwarranted DOJ prosecution at a cost of $25 million.  His success after five years of litigation while continuing to lead a publicly traded company is a legal and business thriller – one that he and co-author Stephen Saltarelli  retell in Cardiac Arrest: Five Heart-Stopping Years as a CEO on the Feds’ Hit List.

What Howard describes in Cardiac Arrest is the “criminalization of America” – a phenomenon that will destroy our economy if left unchecked.  He closes the book with a series of practical, sound improvements we can make to our justice system to reverse course.

The WSJ described the Vascular Solutions litigation in an editorial in April 2016:

“It’s a good day when an honest company succeeds against attempts to criminalize an honest business. Even sweeter would be if Congress and DOJ used the occasion to institute reforms to ensure accountability for prosecutions that never should have happened.”

In the hopes that reform is sooner rather than later, I ordered a copy of Cardiac Arrest for Attorney General Sessions, asking him to meet with Howard when he is in Washington in the first week of April.  My letter is shown below.  If your senator is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I invite you to send them a copy. If not, you can send one to Attorney General Sessions as well.

It’s the last week of the month so no Money & Markets. I am headed to Belgium and the Netherlands this week. Get ready for the 1st Quarter Wrap Up – the Clash of Civilization the following week when I will respond to your next round of questions for Ask Catherine.

Talk to you Thursday!

LETTER BY PRIORITY MAIL

Hon. Jefferson B Sessions III
Attorney General
US Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001

March 24, 2017

Re: Letter of Support for Meeting Request (April 3-6) with Howard Root on Immediate DOJ Actions to Make America Great Again

Dear Attorney General Sessions:

I have arranged for a copy of Cardiac Arrest: Five Heart-Stopping Years as a CEO on the Fed’s Hit List by Howard Root to be delivered to your office by separate package. It is one of the most inspiring books I have read.

Mr. Root is the founder and former CEO of Vascular Solutions, a successful Minnesota medical device company sold to Teleflex Incorporated last month for a total consideration of $1 billion.

Cardiac Arrest tells the story of Mr Root’s successful defense of himself and his company against an unwarranted DOJ qui tam investigation and prosecution. It closes with suggestions of practical steps the department and the Congress can take to improve future performance.

Mr. Root was a practicing attorney before he founded Vascular Solutions. With both legal and business experience, he offers practical insight on immediate, positive changes that you can make to DOJ policies and practices. Lifting the fear of prosecutorial abuse would contribute to greater entrepreneurship and innovation throughout America.

The WSJ described the Vascular Solutions litigation in an editorial in April 2016:

“It’s a good day when an honest company succeeds against attempts to criminalize an honest business. Even sweeter would be if Congress and DOJ used the occasion to institute reforms to ensure accountability for prosecutions that never should have happened.”

Mr. Root will be in Washington from April 3-6^th. His intention is to offer his insight to you and the Senate Judiciary Committee in the hopes that his painful experience can translate into lasting improvements.

Thank you for your service to our country. The demands for your time are great. However, Mr. Root can offer significant value to you and your team. Please avail yourselves of his support. His strong shoulder can help.

This letter comes with prayers for your every success at this critical time for our country,

Best Regards,

Catherine Austin Fitts

The Solari Report

Former Assistant Secretary of Housing -Federal Housing Commissioner – Bush I

Cc: Senator Charles E. Grassley, Chair, Senate Judiciary Committee
Senator Amy J. Klobuchar, Senate Judiciary Committee
Senator Michael S. Lee, Senate Judiciary Committee
Congressman Thomas E. Emmer, Jr, 6^thCongressional District of Minnesota

No need to respond to this letter. Please contact Mr. Root directly:

Howard Root
www.howardroot.com/cardiac-arrest-book