Earlier this month, Army vet Sharon Toney-Finch claimed that the charity she started, the Yerik Israel Toney (YIT) Foundation, had been paying to house a group of some 20 homeless veterans at The Crossroads Hotel in Newburgh, only for the hotel to evict the veterans so migrants bused 70 miles from New York City could stay at the hotel.Sharon Toney-Finch, an Army veteran who was badly injured in Iraq and awarded a Purple Heart, had said her organization - the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation for Preemies, or YIT Foundation - was ...May 19, 2023 · UPDATED 7:53 AM ET May. 20, 2023. The story of migrants displacing homeless veterans that caused outrage and death threats was manufactured, according to local officials who had a role in amplifying the hoax. Sharon Toney-Finch, a veterans’ activist in Poughkeepsie, allegedly recruited homeless men last week to pose as veterans who were ... U.S. Mint Acting Director Ventris Gibson (U.S. Navy) joined Honor Mission Board members Richie Lay (CPL, U.S. Marine Corps), Dan Clarino (CPL, U.S. Marine Corps), Edi Meeks (1LT, U.S. Army Nurse Corps), Purple Heart recipients Matthew Zuniga (SrA, U.S. Air National Guard) and Sharon Toney-Finch (SPC, U.S. Army) and Honor Mission Executive Director Russ Vernon (COL, U.S. Army) to unveil the ...May 19, 2023 · Sharon Toney-Finch and Assemblyman Brian Maher (photo credit Brian Maher Facebook) The admission comes after Maher used the fake crisis to garner front-page coverage in the New York Post last week ... May 20, 2023 · In reality, Sharon Toney-Finch, the CEO of a veterans’ advocacy organization, had concocted the tall tale and apparently even recruited men from a homeless shelter to pose as the displaced vets for the media. Of course, by the time the fraud was exposed, right-wing media had run wild with the story. Fox News led the way, airing dozens of on ... Sharon Toney-Finch, the CEO of an upstate veteran-oriented nonprofit, has been accused of fabricating a story that homeless veterans were displaced from a hotel to make room for asylum seekers. @bridgetgillardOur Founder: Sharon-Toney Finch, a disabled military veteran, created YIT in honor of the premature birth of her son Yerik. The YIT Foundation strives to raise awareness of premature births, offer assistance to preemies (and their families), and provide a place to stay or transportation while the babies are in NICU.Sharon Toney-Finch reportedly lied when she claimed ex-military were getting booted from hotels to make way for the flood of migrants up north.Kevin C. Downs for NY Post. But on Thursday, Maher ... One of the people claiming to be an evicted veteran told The Albany Times Union newspaper that local veterans advocate Sharon Toney-Finch recruited him to take part in a scheme designed to ...Last week, the New York Post published an article — teased on its front page in an enormous font — that relied on an account from Sharon Toney-Finch, head of the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation ...The story, which was on the cover of that day's edition, told the tale of 20 veterans who were kicked out of various hotels in upstate New York, including the Crossroads Hotel in Newburgh, an account that was shared with the Post by Sharon Toney-Finch, the head of the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation. Toney-Finch claimed that her group paid for ...Learn about Sharon Toney Finch's political career and controversies. Sharon Toney Finch is a political figure who has gained a reputation for her controversial statements and actions. She has been involved in several political parties throughout her career, including the Republican Party, the Libertarian Party, and the Constitution Party.May 19, 2023 · The men say they were coached by Sharon Toney-Finch to spin a tale of eviction from the Crossroads Hotel Phillip Pantuso May 19, 2023 Updated: May 19, 2023 7:41 p.m. May 19, 2023 · Sharon Toney-Finch is a decorated military veteran and director of the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation. Sharon Toney-Finch/Facebook. They said they agreed to the deal in part because one of the ... May 20, 2023 · Earlier this month, Army vet Sharon Toney-Finch claimed that the charity she started, the Yerik Israel Toney (YIT) Foundation, had been paying to house a group of some 20 homeless veterans at The Crossroads Hotel in Newburgh, only for the hotel to evict the veterans so migrants bused 70 miles from New York City could stay at the hotel. Sharon Toney-Finch, the CEO of the nonprofit, is a respected person in the community with a track record of helping veterans, he said. At a Wingate hotel in Fishkill, Maher spoke with two people ...Sharon Toney-Finch, director of the non-profit Yerik Israel Toney Foundation (YIT), was nominated for the New York state Senate honor by Sen. Rob Rolison (R-Poughkeepsie) on May 16. Majority...U.S. Mint Acting Director Ventris Gibson (U.S. Navy) joined Honor Mission Board members Richie Lay (CPL, U.S. Marine Corps), Dan Clarino (CPL, U.S. Marine Corps), Edi Meeks (1LT, U.S. Army Nurse Corps), Purple Heart recipients Matthew Zuniga (SrA, U.S. Air National Guard) and Sharon Toney-Finch (SPC, U.S. Army) and Honor Mission Executive Director Russ Vernon (COL, U.S. Army) to unveil the ... Sharon Toney-Finch, the founder of the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation, has come under fire for allegedly fabricating a story about homeless military veterans being evicted from New York hotels to make room for newly arrived migrants. The story gained national attention and sparked outrage, but it appears to have been completely untrue.May 22, 2023 · Sharon Toney-Finch, who runs the YIT Foundation, told news outlets that nearly two dozen veterans were kicked out of hotels in Orange County, New York to make room for migrants. Toney-Finch ... Share your videos with friends, family, and the worldSharon Denise Toney-Finch, Court Case No. 19-35137 in the New York Southern Bankruptcy Court.May 19, 2023 · Toney-Finch tried to capitalize on the migrant crisis by claiming an upstate hotel had booted homeless veterans served by her organization in order to make room for asylum-seekers. The story of men and women who served their country being replaced by foreign migrants was catnip to Republicans and ignited outrage across the country. Leaders from the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation said they had to scramble to find new housing overnight to keep the ... Foundation Executive Director Sharon Finch did not respond to requests for ...Mar 25, 2022 · Members of our team were happy to meet Sharon Toney-Finch, Founder of the YIT Foundation today. The YIT Foundation helps assists preemies and their families in any way possible as well as providing housing, healthcare and other necessary items to veterans. Thank you Sharon for sharing your story with us and for your commitment to Our Community. "Our veterans have been placed in another hotel due to what's going on with the immigrants," said Sharon Toney-Finch, the CEO of the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation. Toney-Finch is a disabled military veteran and the CEO of the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation, which was founded to "raise awareness of premature births, as well as helping the ...After that, Ms. Toney-Finch told the men they were headed to a nearby veterans center where they would pose as veterans who had been kicked out of a local hotel, one of the shelter residents ...U.S. Mint Acting Director Ventris Gibson (U.S. Navy) joined Honor Mission Board members Richie Lay (CPL, U.S. Marine Corps), Dan Clarino (CPL, U.S. Marine Corps), Edi Meeks (1LT, U.S. Army Nurse Corps), Purple Heart recipients Matthew Zuniga (SrA, U.S. Air National Guard) and Sharon Toney-Finch (SPC, U.S. Army) and Honor Mission Executive Director Russ Vernon (COL, U.S. Army) to unveil the ... Sharon Toney-Finch, founder of the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping homeless military veterans and others, in mid-May told a New York state legislator and the ...May 19, 2023 · Leaders from the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation said they had to scramble to find new housing overnight to keep the veterans from ending up back on the street. RELATED VA aims to help 38,000 ... That story, told by Yerik Israel Toney Foundation chief executive Sharon Toney-Finch, was picked up May 12 by The New York Post and quickly followed by Fox News, Newsmax and other conservative news outlets. The Post on Friday published a follow-up story reporting on the latest development.Toney-Finch alleged that the veterans her group was paying to house at these hotels reached out to her to say that they had "been placed in another hotel due to what’s going on with the immigrants."Sharon Toney-Finch and Assemblyman Brian Maher (photo credit Brian Maher Facebook) The admission comes after Maher used the fake crisis to garner front-page coverage in the New York Post last week ...May 20, 2023 · Sharon Toney-Finch, in blue shirt, poses with then-state Sen. Sue Serino and other veterans at a 2021 event. New York State Senate. U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Thomas Schueman, who runs his own ... The controversy around an Army veteran accused of fabricating a tale of homeless veterans being booted from hotels to make room for migrants deepened on Friday—with state officials launching an investigation and questions raised about her claims of being a Purple Heart recipient. The woman at the center of the maelstrom is Sharon Toney-Finch ...May 20, 2023 · Sharon Toney-Finch, the CEO of an upstate veteran-oriented nonprofit, has been accused of fabricating a story that homeless veterans were displaced from a hotel to make room for asylum seekers. @bridgetgillard Sharon Toney-Finch, the director of the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation (YIT), was nominated for the New York State Senate honor by Sen. Rob Rolison (R-Poughkeepsie) on May 16. May 19, 2023 · In a statement published on Thursday, Maher said he was "devastated and disheartened upon a conversation with Sharon Toney-Finch at approximately 3:15 p.m. today, where I learned that the ... Publisher’s Note (May 20, 2023) – Subsequent information emerged after the original publication of the story below that revealed the claim made by Sharon Toney-Finch and Assemblyman Brian ...May 20, 2023 · Sharon Toney-Finch, in blue shirt, poses with then-state Sen. Sue Serino and other veterans at a 2021 event. New York State Senate. U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Thomas Schueman, who runs his own ... May 19, 2023 · “One of the vets called me on Sunday,’’ YIT Foundation CEO Sharon Toney-Finch told the Post last week. “He told me he had to leave because the hotel said the extended stay is not available. May 19, 2023 · “One of the vets called me on Sunday,’’ YIT Foundation CEO Sharon Toney-Finch told the Post last week. “He told me he had to leave because the hotel said the extended stay is not available. Members of our team were happy to meet Sharon Toney-Finch, Founder of the YIT Foundation today. The YIT Foundation helps assists preemies and their families in any way possible as well as providing housing, healthcare and other necessary items to veterans. Thank you Sharon for sharing your story with us and for your commitment to Our Community.May 19, 2023 · “One of the vets called me on Sunday,’’ YIT Foundation CEO Sharon Toney-Finch told the Post last week. “He told me he had to leave because the hotel said the extended stay is not available. Sharon is a excellent motivator and probably the most caring person I have ever met. I’m proud to know Sharon, and I hope she is recognized for this achievement. (Tyrone Finch) Sharon has worked hard with building her foundation that helps military families with preemies as well as homeless veterans and low-income vets."Our veterans have been placed in another hotel due to what's going on with the immigrants," said Sharon Toney-Finch, the CEO of the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation. Toney-Finch is a disabled military veteran and the CEO of the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation, which was founded to "raise awareness of premature births, as well as helping the ...May 19, 2023 · Maher was the first to draw attention to the supposed incident because he was already familiar with a small charity based in Orange County, the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation, and its founder, Sharon Toney-Finch, who originally tipped the assemblyman off. Sharon Toney-Finch was initially nominated by Sen. Rob Rolison (R-Poughkeepsie) on May 16. ... “The Senate’s action is justified in light of the false statements Ms. Toney-Finch gave to ...May 20, 2023 · May 20, 2023 9:32 am The U.S. Army veteran who made false claims about homeless veterans being evicted from New York hotels because a busload of migrants needed to be housed in their place claims she was awarded the Purple Heart. However, conflicting records now raise doubts about whether she did receive that honor. May 20, 2023 · After that, Ms. Toney-Finch told the men they were headed to a nearby veterans center where they would pose as veterans who had been kicked out of a local hotel, one of the shelter residents ... NEWBURGH – State Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson (D, Newburgh) is calling on State Attorney General Letitia James to investigate the Yerik Israel Toney (YIT) Foundation and its CEO, Sharon Toney-Finch, after several news reports debunked Toney-Finch’s recent claim that 20 homeless veterans under YIT care were displaced by asylum seekers at the Crossroads Hotel in the Town of Newburgh.May 19, 2023 · In its original story, the New York Post quoted Toney-Finch as saying that one of the men had supposedly called her to tell her about being left on the streets. “Last night, I was crying,” she ... May 19, 2023 · Leaders from the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation said they had to scramble to find new housing overnight to keep the veterans from ending up back on the street. RELATED VA aims to help 38,000 ... NEWBURGH – State Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson (D, Newburgh) is calling on State Attorney General Letitia James to investigate the Yerik Israel Toney (YIT) Foundation and its CEO, Sharon Toney-Finch, after several news reports debunked Toney-Finch’s recent claim that 20 homeless veterans under YIT care were displaced by asylum seekers at the Crossroads Hotel in the Town of Newburgh.Sharon Toney-Finch, a disabled veteran who founded the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation, said she was misguided in her initial understanding that veterans under her group’s care were moved from...NEWBURGH – State Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson (D, Newburgh) is calling on State Attorney General Letitia James to investigate the Yerik Israel Toney (YIT) Foundation and its CEO, Sharon Toney-Finch, after several news reports debunked Toney-Finch’s recent claim that 20 homeless veterans under YIT care were displaced by asylum seekers at the Crossroads Hotel in the Town of Newburgh.All Latest Sharon Toney-Finch News / State Watch Story of homeless veterans booted from hotel for migrants was a hoax: NY lawmaker State Watch / 3 months ago by Brad Dress. 05/19/23 3:48 PM ET ...Sharon Toney-Finch, the CEO of the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation, who herself is a disabled military veteran told the publication that the veterans were originally set to temporarily stay at the three hotels for up to four weeks until permanent housing for them could be found. However, they were given the boot after just two weeks.The woman at the center of the maelstrom is Sharon Toney-Finch, who was inducted last July into the New York State Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame after a special salute by lawmakers for her service. She is listed in the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor , has been the subject of glowing profiles about her heroism under fire, and once ...Sharon Toney-Finch understands the struggles that come with service. She was injured twice while serving in Iraq, and continues to deal with a disability, a traumatic brain injury. She earned a ...May 19, 2023 · In a statement published on Thursday, Maher said he was "devastated and disheartened upon a conversation with Sharon Toney-Finch at approximately 3:15 p.m. today, where I learned that the ... May 20, 2023 · The men said they were paid by Sharon Toney-Finch, the CEO of the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation. She also allegedly forged credit card receipts to make it appear that the hotel had accepted ... May 18, 2023 · Sharon Toney-Finch, an Army veteran who was badly injured in Iraq and awarded a Purple Heart, had said her organization - the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation for Preemies, or YIT Foundation - was ... The controversy around an Army veteran accused of fabricating a tale of homeless veterans being booted from hotels to make room for migrants deepened on Friday—with state officials launching an investigation and questions raised about her claims of being a Purple Heart recipient. The woman at the center of the maelstrom is Sharon Toney-Finch ...Sharon Toney-Finch All Latest Sharon Toney-Finch News / State Watch Eric Adams asks for investigation into disputed story about homeless veterans being displaced by immigrants State Watch ...Aug 18, 2022 · The Sharon Toney-Finch Story: I was injured during my 2 tours in Iraq and was taken to a hospital in Germany for surgery and recovery. While on my tour in Seoul, South Korea, I was in excruciating pain and went to the Army Hospital and the International hospital for relief to no avail. The Yerik Israel Toney Foundation is a nonprofit foundation based in Monticello, New York, that says it provides assistance to military veterans and their families. In its story published on May 12, the Post reported that the foundation’s CEO, Sharon Toney-Finch, had claimed that veterans were being removed from temporary housing in hotels so ...Our Founder: Sharon-Toney Finch, a disabled military veteran, created YIT in honor of the premature birth of her son Yerik. The YIT Foundation strives to raise awareness of premature births, offer assistance to preemies (and their families), and provide a place to stay or transportation while the babies are in NICU.May 20, 2023 · The controversy around an Army veteran accused of fabricating a tale of homeless veterans being booted from hotels to make room for migrants deepened on Friday—with state officials launching an investigation and questions raised about her claims of being a Purple Heart recipient. The woman at the center of the maelstrom is Sharon Toney-Finch ... Last week, the New York Post published an article — teased on its front page in an enormous font — that relied on an account from Sharon Toney-Finch, head of the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation ...The absolute drama of that cover. Sharon Toney-Finch, the CEO of the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation, which raises "awareness" of premature births and also provides some assistance to unhoused or low-income veterans (weird combo, but okay) told the Post that on Saturday night she started getting calls from veterans whose stays in upstate New York hotels her foundation had already paid for ...Sharon is a excellent motivator and probably the most caring person I have ever met. I’m proud to know Sharon, and I hope she is recognized for this achievement. (Tyrone Finch) Sharon has worked hard with building her foundation that helps military families with preemies as well as homeless veterans and low-income vets. May 22, 2023 · Sharon Toney-Finch All Latest Sharon Toney-Finch News / State Watch Eric Adams asks for investigation into disputed story about homeless veterans being displaced by immigrants State Watch ... May 19, 2023 · In its original story, the New York Post quoted Toney-Finch as saying that one of the men had supposedly called her to tell her about being left on the streets. “Last night, I was crying,” she ... The Sharon Toney-Finch Story: I was injured during my 2 tours in Iraq and was taken to a hospital in Germany for surgery and recovery. While on my tour in Seoul, South Korea, I was in excruciating pain and went to the Army Hospital and the International hospital for relief to no avail. Aug 18, 2022 · The Sharon Toney-Finch Story: I was injured during my 2 tours in Iraq and was taken to a hospital in Germany for surgery and recovery. While on my tour in Seoul, South Korea, I was in excruciating pain and went to the Army Hospital and the International hospital for relief to no avail. Heather Bell-Meyer (on left) and Sharon Toney-Finch, on right Seven homeless men have come forward to say they were part of a group of men recruited at a Poughkeepsie homeless shelter to act as veterans that had been displaced from a Newburgh hotel in order for a non-profit organization to perpetrate a fraud on the public.Sharon Toney. We found 77 records for Sharon Toney in FL, NY and 20 other states. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. AGE. 60s. Sharon M Toney. Sunrise, FL (Welleby) View Full Report. USED TO LIVE IN Saint Petersburg, FL • Valrico, FL • Clearwater, FL.UPDATED 7:53 AM ET May. 20, 2023. The story of migrants displacing homeless veterans that caused outrage and death threats was manufactured, according to local officials who had a role in amplifying the hoax. Sharon Toney-Finch, a veterans’ activist in Poughkeepsie, allegedly recruited homeless men last week to pose as veterans who were ...Sharon Toney-Finch, director of the non-profit Yerik Israel Toney Foundation (YIT), was nominated for the New York state Senate honor by Sen. Rob Rolison (R-Poughkeepsie) on May 16. Majority...May 20, 2023 · Toney-Finch has spoken of enduring 82 surgeries as a result of her wounds. No Record However, U.S. Army spokesman Bryce Dubee told The Daily Beast on Friday that the Department of Defense does... Sharon Toney-Finch, the CEO of YIT Foundation expressed her frustration citing that “Our veterans have been placed in another hotel due to what’s going on with the immigrants ...Share your videos with friends, family, and the world That story, told by Yerik Israel Toney Foundation chief executive Sharon Toney-Finch, was picked up May 12 by The New York Post and quickly followed by Fox News, Newsmax and other conservative news outlets. The Post on Friday published a follow-up story reporting on the latest development.Sharon Toney-Finch, the founder of the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation, has come under fire for allegedly fabricating a story about homeless military veterans being evicted from New York hotels to make room for newly arrived migrants. The story gained national attention and sparked outrage, but it appears to have been completely untrue.On 01/29/2019 Sharon Denise Toney-Finch was filed as a Bankruptcy - Chapter 7 lawsuit. This case was filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Courts, New York Southern Bankruptcy. The case status is Pending - Other Pending. Case Details Parties.Toney-Finch tried to capitalize on the migrant crisis by claiming an upstate hotel had booted homeless veterans served by her organization in order to make room for asylum-seekers. The story of men and women who served their country being replaced by foreign migrants was catnip to Republicans and ignited outrage across the country.Sharon Toney-Finch is a decorated military veteran and director of the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation. Sharon Toney-Finch/Facebook. They said they agreed to the deal in part because one of the ...Toney-Finch tried to capitalize on the migrant crisis by claiming an upstate hotel had booted homeless veterans served by her organization in order to make room for asylum-seekers. The story of men and women who served their country being replaced by foreign migrants was catnip to Republicans and ignited outrage across the country.The controversy around an Army veteran accused of fabricating a tale of homeless veterans being booted from hotels to make room for migrants deepened on Friday—with state officials launching an investigation and questions raised about her claims of being a Purple Heart recipient. The woman at the center of the maelstrom is Sharon Toney-Finch ...Sharon Toney-Finch, a disabled veteran who founded the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation, said she was misguided in her initial understanding that veterans under her group’s care were moved from...
Sharon Toney-Finch, the director of the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation (YIT), was nominated for the New York State Senate honor by Sen. Rob Rolison (R-Poughkeepsie) on May 16.. In tank fuel pump
Sharon Toney-Finch, the director of the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation (YIT), was nominated for the New York State Senate honor by Sen. Rob Rolison (R-Poughkeepsie) on May 16.Heather Bell-Meyer (on left) and Sharon Toney-Finch, on right Seven homeless men have come forward to say they were part of a group of men recruited at a Poughkeepsie homeless shelter to act as veterans that had been displaced from a Newburgh hotel in order for a non-profit organization to perpetrate a fraud on the public.said Toney-Finch. It is estimated that Castle Point serves some 40,000 veterans in Dutchess, Orange and Ulster Counties. Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan is a veteran and says the need is growing.Sharon Toney. We found 77 records for Sharon Toney in FL, NY and 20 other states. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. AGE. 60s. Sharon M Toney. Sunrise, FL (Welleby) View Full Report. USED TO LIVE IN Saint Petersburg, FL • Valrico, FL • Clearwater, FL.Sharon Toney-Finch, a disabled veteran who founded the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation, said she was misguided in her initial understanding that veterans under her group’s care were moved from...May 24, 2023 · Sharon Toney-Finch, founder of the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping homeless military veterans and others, in mid-May told a New York state legislator and the ... May 24, 2023 · Sharon Toney-Finch, director of the non-profit Yerik Israel Toney Foundation (YIT), was nominated for the New York state Senate honor by Sen. Rob Rolison (R-Poughkeepsie) on May 16. Majority... Sharon Toney. We found 77 records for Sharon Toney in FL, NY and 20 other states. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. AGE. 60s. Sharon M Toney. Sunrise, FL (Welleby) View Full Report. USED TO LIVE IN Saint Petersburg, FL • Valrico, FL • Clearwater, FL.One of the people claiming to be an evicted veteran told The Albany Times Union newspaper that local veterans advocate Sharon Toney-Finch recruited him to take part in a scheme designed to ...Ms. Toney-Finch’s goal for the first part of 2022 was to house 1,000 homeless veterans; she has housed 780 to date. She works within six counties assisting veterans, military sexual trauma (MST ...May 15, 2023 · Update 5/22/23, 7:15 a.m. ET: This article was updated to reflect that the original claim by Sharon Toney-Finch has since been described as a fabrication. Update 5/15/23, 10:10 a.m. ET: This ... Toney-Finch alleged that the veterans her group was paying to house at these hotels reached out to her to say that they had "been placed in another hotel due to what’s going on with the immigrants."Sharon Toney-Finch, OIF Purple Heart Recipient, was born in May 1980 and raised in Woodrige NY. In . February 2006, Sharon joined the Army to become part of the Quarter Master team. Sharon did boot camp . at FT Jackson in South Carolina and completed AIT for Supply Logistics at Ft Lee Virgina. After training, Sharon Toney-Finch was nominated by Sen. Rob Rolison, R-Poughkeepsie, on May 16. Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins informed Rolison in a letter on Tuesday that the distinction has been rescinded..