Though the players in this ethical scandal are celebrities to an extent, this should not be an example of a celebrity “gone wild,” rather a person who was allowed to operate without consequences or expectations. Needless to say, this example of unethical behavior could not have occurred without many other people looking the other way. In a piece published on September 20, 2016 
(Associated Press) entitled: “Kurt Busch’s ex charged with stealing from military charity,” we get another glimpse into the life and times of Patricia Driscoll.
According to the article:
“Court documents don’t say how much prosecutors believe Patricia Driscoll took from the District of Columbia-based Armed Forces Foundation, whose mission is to support service members, veterans and their families.”
Driscoll was in charge of the foundation from 2006 to 2014. By 2014, the tax information from the “Foundation” said that Driscoll had misappropriated nearly $600,000 during the period. She spent the money on gifts, meals, travel, parking tickets (!) and even makeup.
She faces multiple counts of fraud, and in addition to those charges filed against her, she is accused of “diverting foundation funds to her personal bank account and lying to the Internal Revenue Service about her salary and benefits.”
Patricia Driscoll and Kurt Busch had a troubled and rocky relationship outside of the unethical behavior she exhibited as the president of the foundation for more than 12 years. She was forced to resign in 2015.
As for the charges filed against Busch by Driscoll for domestic violence nothing was ever proven, but the courts granted her a request for a protective order, and it resulted in Busch sitting out three races in the 2015 season.
Separate the Issues
Domestic violence of any kind, in any setting, is an extremely serious offense that must be vigorously prosecuted. I remember the drama between Busch and Driscoll from a couple of years ago. What was obviously apparent was how verbally and emotionally abusive the relationship had become. As for its physical aspects, it is not possible to operate on hearsay. Even if concrete proof is not apparent, the courts often have no choice but to slap on restraining orders. I don’t find fault with that. For far too long, domestic abuse was ignored due to a “lack of evidence.”
However, the Armed Forces Foundation is another matter altogether. It is a noble and important organization that addresses the trauma (physically and emotionally) that veterans and their families must endure. As a charity doing wonderful work, it is an entity that should be transparent. Somehow Driscoll was able to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars donated by well-intentioned organizations and individuals in support of our nation’s veterans. She was without conscience and apparently, without checks and balances.
How does this occur?
Patricia Driscoll stormed into the charity as a highly successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. A young, hard-charger, she came from the world of surveillance and security and had bankrolled that success.
She seemed to have all the right credentials, and who could argue with her achievements? In fact, those credentials might have fooled the organization and its board into a type of self-deception. Over time Driscoll probably realized that the checks, balances and expectations in terms of internal reporting were being loosely played. She took advantage of those oversights. After all, she was the rising star.
Domestic violence, sadly, may be hidden from public view. It is also realize that every so often, charges of domestic violence may provide a smokescreen defense for rationalizing bad behaviors. I am not alleging, only musing.
Gifts, vacations, meal receipts and the like cannot be hidden. They must eventually be accounted for and tallied. The $600,000 in unethical payments and gifts that Driscoll’s lawyers claim are legitimate could have gone to helping many veterans in crisis. In my opinion, she was without humanity or compassion.
Ultimately, the Armed Forces Foundation has to look at itself for the huge loss. They removed all consequences for Driscoll’s terrible choices for 12 years. It is so easy to say to an executive, “Don’t worry, we trust you,” and so terribly difficult to apologize to those people who truly placed their trust in you to do right.
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