Thread: Terry McAuliffe’s Commerce Secretary Target of Federal Investigation

Terry McAuliffe’s Commerce Secretary Target of Federal Investigation

McAuliffe and Commerce Secretary Maurice Jones / AP

BY: Washington Free Beacon Staff
February 24, 2014 11:29 pm

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s commerce secretary Maurice Jones improperly lobbied Congress as a member of the Obama administration, according to an internal federal investigation launched by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Washington Times reports:

An internal federal probe has concluded that Maurice Jones, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s new commerce secretary, improperly lobbied Congress while he was in the Obama administration last year.

Mr. Jones, who was a deputy secretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, sent an email to more than 1,000 recipients—including 46 people at HUD—asking them to contact senators to “defend against efforts by some Republicans” to prevent a housing bill to come up for a vote, according to the internal probe. The message also asked “friends and supporters” to tell senators to vote “no” on another amendment.

A months long investigation by the HUD’s office of inspector general concluded thatMr. Jones and four others at HUD appear to have violated anti-lobbying laws, which restrict the use of funds for publicity or propaganda directed at pending legislation before Congress. The probe also concluded that Mr. Jones violated internal HUD policy on lobbying by federal employees.

http://freebeacon.com/terry-mcauliff...investigation/

Five Totally McAuliffe Moves

The Macker is living up to his reputation

Terry McAuliffe

BY: Brent Scher

February 25, 2014 12:20 pm

Terry McAuliffe has been Virginia’s governor for less than two months and things are beginning to shape up predictably.

McAuliffe, a legendary fundraiser for the Democratic Party, built himself a reputation as a big partier with a special knack for finding himself in the middle of scandals.

Here are the five most McAuliffe moves pulled off by the governor so far:

1. Valiantly attempting to cut some rug, and failing



McAuliffe got off to a hot start at his inaugural ball, attempting to shred the dance floor to pieces.

2. Appointing a commerce secretary who is under federal investigation

McAuliffe and Commerce Secretary Maurice Jones / AP

It didn’t take long for one of McAuliffe’s appointments to join him as the target of a federal investigation.

Maurice Jones, McAuliffe’s commerce secretary, was the target of a federal probe launched by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The investigation found that Jones had improperly lobbied Congress as a member of the Obama administration last year.

3. Making a GreenTech exec with no experience his first cabinet appointment

Twitter

McAuliffe’s first cabinet appointment was to name his deputy campaign manager, who had never before held a government post, secretary of the commonwealth.

Levar Stoney, a veteran of Democratic campaigns, more recently served as director of public and government affairs for GreenTech, McAuliffe’s former failing and scandal-tainted electric car company.

Stoney admitted to being part of a group of Democratic operatives that slashed the tires of 25 Republican Party vans on Election Day in 2004.

4. Throwing “Sixty parties in 60 days!” during legislative session

Terry McAuliffe

McAuliffe’s most notable renovation to the governor’s mansion was to its bar.

McAuliffe used his personal funds to upgrade the bar with top-shelf liquor and a variety of craft brews in an attempt to bring Virginia lawmakers together for “Sixty parties in 60 days!” during the state’s two-month legislation session.

5. Sending Virginians running to the gun store

Guns on sale / AP

Virginia broke records for firearm sales in anticipation of McAuliffe taking the reigns.

Following McAuliffe’s November election, Virginia totaled 3,902 gun transactions on Black Friday alone, breaking previous records for sales that day.

McAuliffe received an “F” rating from the National Rifle Association and appointed the Virginia state director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence to his transition team.

McAuliffe’s gubernatorial victory was bankrolled in part by gun-control groups, such as Michael Bloomberg’s Mayors Against Illegal Guns, which spent $1.1 million on the race.

Experts say that the gun-buying frenzy that fueled Virginia’s record sales of nearly480,000 firearms in 2013 was driven by fears of McAuliffe imposing state-level gun legislation this year.

http://freebeacon.com/five-most-totally-mcauliffe-moves-of-terry-mcauliffes-governorship-so-far/