No my brother, it's not actually cleared up. But please allow me to explain. They once were all a band of friends, referring to a particular small groups of GMs. GM Slaughter-LA considered GM Vaughn-TN as a mentor of sorts, he even fondly referred to him as "the dean of GMs". It's important to mention that this "small group" were also the top ranking officers of the USC-SJPHA. Well, a few years ago, as a part of a succession plan, discussion began concerning GM Slaughter taking the seat of SGC after SGC Vaughn stepped down since the brother who was #2 was unable to (the reason I forget). In preparation for this transition GM Slaughter (who is a CPA by trade) after hearing rumors amongst the SC, requested an audit of the books for fear that he might inherit a volatile situation. The audit initially found that $1.2 million was unaccounted for, and further investigation raised the total closer to $3 million. Not only feeling betrayed, but also remaining mindful of his duties as a GM he chose to act not only in the best interest of the USC-SJ PHA and it's membership, but also to protect the brothers of his jurisdiction by not exposing our GL to the intense scrutiny that was being felt by the SC from the IRS and the FBI. After the situation was exposed, elections were held, and the brothers involved still opted to keep SGC Vaughn in leadership, GM Slaughter realized the problem went further than SGC Vaughn and the Tech who stole $100,000+ from the USC paypal account. He then removed recognition from the USC-SJ PHA ONLY, and in conjunction with other jurisdictions who felt the same way, decided to start a new USC-SJ (NOT NATIONAL) in Washington D.C. (NOT DETROIT). Then GM Vaughn and the others involved decided to retaliate by removing recognition from LA on the Blue Lodge level, although this issue has nothing to do with the Blue Lodge. The reason they originally gave was, to sum it up, "he was unmasonic because he told on us and brothers don't tell on each other". Well, masonically I must admit that on SOME levels I agree. But I must also add that 1st, I have a little brother and YES brothers DO tell on each other; 2nd what is actually unmasonic is being entrusted with the highest office in a branch of masonry and dishonoring that position by stealing from the brotherhood. The guy who sticks up for the brotherhood and exposes the theft, even at the risk of being ostracized, he is the hero not the villain.
As far as the Virgin Islands thing, what happened with that was the brothers of the islands had everything the masonically needed to start their own GL. They went to FL for their blessing and assistance, because that's who they were under, only to be basically held hostage. The only reasons I've been able to get from anyone who would actually know is it was because the GM of FL wasn't quite ready to lose the islands for whatever reasons ($$ in my opinion). After GM Slaughter received a request to help them (VI) and decided to oblige, the GM of FL decided to jump on the "no LA" bandwagon. I hope I didn't leave anything out.