I guess it depends on how central this is for you? Is it going to really hold you back from working with this T?

I think that in your situation I personally would let this go, because I would be thinking that after having gone through a really difficult experience and lost my T in such a horrible way, I would want to keep working with my other familiar T who is helpful and not abusive, and that this support would be the most important thing for me.

Also, it seems like such a strangely elaborate and unnecessary lie, as you say. I might say to myself that there is probably another explanation: the T works for a different board e.g. a different group of healthcare workers or a different state, or works as a consultant rather than as a permanent member - I don't know if any of those explanations really make sense, but I mean I might think to myself that there must be another explanation that I haven't understood.

On the other hand, if this is going to be a deal-breaker for you and you would not be able to continue working with the T as things are, then I would say you should ask them directly. It might lead to a rupture, OR it might lead to a very helpful discussion and restore your faith in your T. It's a risk so I think it would be worthwhile if you feel that otherwise you would end up leaving the T anyway.

That's my opinion for what it's worth! I hope all will work out for the best for you.