Fact Check: Koch Brothers Cook Up Cockamamie Claims
Press Release
Today, Americans for Prosperity announced it would continue propping up Ed Gillespie's lackluster campaign with a seven-figure cable television buy. The ad campaign continues a dishonest, misleading line of attack. The facts are clear: As an Army Veteran, pediatrician, and volunteer medical director, Ralph always showed up for his fellow soldiers and patients. As Lt. Governor, he and Gov. McAuliffe have reformed VEDP, and cleaned up the mess Ed Gillespie's friend, Bob McDonnell, left behind.
Northam for Governor campaign press secretary, Ofirah Yheskel, issued the following statement in response to Americans for Prosperity's misinformation campaign:
"Relying on misleading facts to manufacture false attacks is a sure sign of a flailing campaign that's hoping for traction. Ed Gillespie, a K Street lobbyist and the architect of dark money in politics, is so desperate that he needs to be bailed out by the Koch brothers. After refusing to stand up to Trump, and having no record to run on himself, it's not shocking that he would revert to old habits and the type of politics that makes Virginians cynical about government."
Background
Washington Post: "Board Members Were Not Directly Involved In Grant Decisions; Grants Were Recommended By Staff And Approved By The Governor." "At the time of the grant award, Northam was one of 24 board members that oversaw the agency. Board members were not directly involved in grant decisions; grants were recommended by staff and approved by the governor." [Washington Post, 9/6/17]
Daily Press: "Northam Was On The Board But The Board Does Not Act On Such Grants, Which Are Recommended By Its Staff And Made At The Discretion Of The Governor." "Did you know that he "wasted $1.4 million of your tax dollars on a fake Chinese company'? That seemed like important news to us. So Shad Plank checked the Richmond Times-Dispatch story that flier's fine print told us was its source for this waste. And, um, that story doesn't mention Northam at all. It was about then-Secretary of Commerce Maurice Jones telling the Senate Finance Committee he was reviewing the grant, which was supposed to bring a Chinese firm to Appomattox, and didn't. Apparently, state officials approved the grant without such simple checks as seeing if the North Carolina headquarters it said it operated from actually existed. Northam was on the board of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership at the time, but the board does not act on such grants, which are recommended by its staff and made at the discretion of the governor." [Daily Press, 8/16/17]
Daily Press: "The Board Doesn't Vote On Grants." [Daily Press, 8/16/17]
Daily Press: "The Board That AfP Says Northam Didn't Spend Enough Time On Didn't Stop A Grant That The Law Doesn't Allow It." [Daily Press, 8/16/17]
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