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Cuccinelli punts on controversial donation

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Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli said Wednesday that he will donate than $55,000 in campaign money from a contributor who is now under investigation.

“We were practicing the principle of presumed innocence with Bobby Thompson, awaiting proof from law enforcement that the money he had given the campaign was either a legitimate donation or was not his to give. With Mr. Thompson’s recent disappearance and apparent unwillingness to maintain contact with his own attorneys, it seems that he does not wish to defend himself or the U.S. Navy Veterans Association. Because of this, I chose to divest my campaign of any funds associated with Mr. Thompson,” Cuccinelli said.

The monies came from Thompson and his United States Navy Veterans Association. Cuccinelli’s political staff set aside funds donated by Thompson into a segregated account after efforts by staffers to locate certain members of the USNVA came up empty-handed.

Most recently, Thompson’s lawyers have declared that they have been unable to locate Thompson despite their best efforts.

Over the past week, Cuccinelli and his staff have been contacting veterans around the Commonwealth attempting to determine how to most effectively help veterans and their families.

“Our goal here is identify veterans’ charities that have an impact around the Commonwealth – and then direct those funds where they can be of most help to our nation’s heroes,” Cuccinelli said.
 
 

Edited by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at [email protected].

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