A Republican legislator in New York has disputed the allegation that hotels were displacing veterans to accommodate asylum seekers, asserting that the claim is untrue. Sharon Toney-Finch, an advocate for veterans and an Army veteran herself, garnered attention when she asserted that former military members were being expelled from hotels to make room for incoming migrants. Toney-Finch’s organization, the Yerik Israel Toney (YIT) Foundation, is dedicated to providing assistance to premature babies and their families, as well as supporting homeless and economically disadvantaged veterans in need of housing assistance.
Initially, Toney-Finch stated last week that 20 veterans had been informed they could no longer stay at three hotels in Orange County—Crossroads in Newburgh and Super 8 and Hampton Inn & Suites in Middletown—due to the arrival of asylum seekers. However, State Assemblyman Brian Maher, who has collaborated with Toney-Finch, informed the New York Post that he no longer believes her claim after confronting her, and he has severed ties with her organization.
Maher explained, “I requested her permission to authorize the bank to release the information. She declined. After two minutes, I called her back and explained my feelings about not being able to access that information. Then I asked her if she fabricated the claim, and she struggled to admit it—this is someone I’ve worked with for the past three years—but she ultimately confessed that it did not happen.”
Maher further revealed, “When I inquired why she would make up something like that, she replied, ‘I had to help the veterans.'”
After being approached by Fox News Digital, Maher released a public statement expressing his stance. He declared, “Although the YIT Foundation purports to protect and support veterans, their dishonest claims and distortion of facts severely damage our homeless veterans by eroding trust.” He announced that he is no longer associated with the YIT Foundation and will no longer extend his assistance to it. Additionally, Maher called for an immediate investigation by the New York State Attorney General’s office and the Orange County District Attorney into the YIT Foundation based on the newly revealed information. He formally requested the authorities to examine the potential fraud committed by the YIT Foundation, as he has come to know that their recent assertions about aiding homeless veterans were invalid. Maher also suspects that other fraudulent activities may be occurring.
