Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R) took $55,000 in campaign contributions from the U.S. Navy Veterans Association (USNVA) founder Bobby Thompson before it was revealed that the USNVA was quite possibly a scam that existed solely for the personal enrichment of one Bobby Thompson. After his fellow state Republicans discovered it, they hastily turned around and gave the tainted donations to actual non-profits that help individual veterans. Not Cuccinelli, though: he insisted on keeping them even as he told reporters that he also would not be initiating any investigation into Thompson or USNVA.
Responding to pressure today, Cuccinelli announced a slight change of plans. Taking a page from BP, he deposited $55,000 of his campaign war chest into an escrow account pending the outcome of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ investigation into the charity.
Cuccinelli’s political director announced today that, in the wake of difficulties the campaign had getting in touch with anyone who supposedly worked for or serve on the board of USNVA, they would put the money in the account depending on the outcome of the investigation. There is, however, but one outcome that would convince them to let go of that money.
However, if it is determined that funds were misappropriated from the USNVA to Bobby Thompson the campaign will donate those contributions to military support organizations here in Virginia.
In other words, even is USNVA never gave a single dime to military charities or assisted a single navy veteran, if Thompson used those funds to simply pay himself an exorbitant salary — which, technically, would be legal — the Cuccinnelli won’t give a dime of his hard-earned campaign contributions to a single veteran, either.
