Image: Project Veritas; Edited: Steve Thurston
In this grainy, sereptitious video, Patrick Moran, the son of Rep. Jim Moran (D-8th), talks to a activist about committing voter fraud. In the video, Moran seems to give the activist advice on this. Moran's office says Patrick was just talking to someone he does not know and not engaging in a serious discussion.
The Arlington County Republican Committee has decided not to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice over comments made by Rep. James Moran’s son in a secretly-recorded video, though they have sent letters to the state Board of Elections, and to Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli asking for an investigation.
A federal investigation is "not a possibility at this moment in time," said GOP attorney Mike Ginsberg. "There are no more formal avenues can we can pursue."
Patrick Moran, former field director for his father’s campaign, resigned from his position Wednesday after a video, recorded by a conservative activist, surfaced, showing Patrick Moran advising him on how to commit voter fraud.
Charles Hokanson, Chairman of the Arlington County Republican Committee, said the Moran comments would fall under a federal provision about aiding or abetting.
“Our lawyers are looking into it,” filing a complaint with DOJ, Hokanson said. Hokanson yesterday called for Moran’s resignation. “It’s time for Jim Moran to go—by resignation in disgrace, or by voter indignation at the voting booth on November 6,” Hokanson said in a press release.
The Federal Electoral Commission said they will not be investigating Patrick Moran, as the issue should be dealt with at a state level, and they have not yet received any complaints over the matter.
Arlington County Police started an investigation yesterday into election offense allegations by Patrick Moran. The Republican Committe of Virginia’s 8th District has asked Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and the Virginia Board of Elections to investigate.
The Attorney General’s office has not seen the letters.
“It would be highly inappropriate to comment on this case because it is now a police investigation,” Theo Stamos, Commonwealth’s Attorney for Arlington, said.
“We don’t know how big this thing is,” said Dustin Sternbeck, Public Information Officer for the Arlington County Police Department. “All parties will be investigated, including the individuals who put out the video. The video is a good starting point for our officers in an investigation.”
“It would be irresponsible if the police did not investigate,” he said.
The video, filmed on Oct. 8, was produced by Project Veritas, a non-profit founded by conservative activist James O’Keefe. The group aims to expose voter fraud and corruption, and encourage transparency in politics and society.
A Project Veritas activist, pretending to be a supporter of the Moran campaign, approached Patrick Moran in the video, telling him about a plan to vote for 100 people, pretending to be them.