Mollohan Scandal, Now Featuring Skeeter and Aunt TibAs a scandal’s details become known, it develops its own flavor. In today’s New York Times, we get our first real taste of the Mollohan scandal, and it’s clear this one will carry the heartiness of the West Virginia mountains from which Mollohan hails.
The paper reports today that the feds are curious about a mess of condominiums Mollohan purchased with his “cousin.” Having roots in West Virginia, I can tell you that “cousin” there is used as an inclusive, not an exclusive, term. It’s thrown around to mean just about anyone you’re in any way related to who isn’t your parent, grandparent, great-grandparent or your child.
Indeed, Mollohan and his investment-partner “cousin” Joe Jarvis aren’t immediate cousins. In a case like theirs, it’s a favorite West Virginia game to sit around and figure out exactly how two such characters share blood — as the New York Times dutifully engages:
Mr. Jarvis, 74, and Mr. Mollohan, 63, share a great-great grandfather, and Mr. Jarvis’s son, Skeeter, said his grandmother Mildred and Mr. Mollohan’s Aunt Tib were best friends who lived next door.
Oh, this is going to be a fun one. West Virginia, mountain mama, take me home.
