Oct. 3, 2010
Is the Federal Investigation Getting Closer to Manchin?
Campaign 2010 Analysis: The U.S. Senate Race
By Huntingtonnews.net Staff
The Dominion Post featured a front page story this weekend that may be making
Governor Joe Manchin a bit more concerned about his political future.
The story focuses on a Freedom of Information request that the Dominion Post recently filed to discover what kind of business former Manchin Chief of Staff Larry Puccio had with state government after leaving the Governor's office. Due to rumors regarding possible involvement by Puccio's firm in the Fairmont Gateway road project, the Dominion Post asked for information involving that project, too.
The response the Dominion Post received back from Dwayne Tinsley, who was appointed special counsel after the federal subpoenas were issued a several weeks ago, was jarring. Tinsley explained to the Dominion Post that there was an exception to the Freedom of Information Act for any information that is currently before a grand jury. As a result, he could not fulfill the newspaper's Freedom of Information request.
In short, Tinsley's response confirmed what many had suspected all along, namely that
Governor Manchin's former Chief of Staff, Larry Puccio, was at least one of the targets
of this federal probe. The fact that Puccio continues to serve Manchin as his hand-picked
State Democratic Party Chairman only creates more problems for the Governor and the
Democratic Party as the political season hurdles to a climactic finish on November 2nd.
"This federal investigation is beginning to give the famous Manchin/Puccio relationship a certain odor about it," said Jack Ellis, Huntingtonnews.net's chief political analyst. "And there's no way that the Manchin campaign can cry foul on the Republicans for this mess they're in, as this was a federal probe initiated by the Obama Administration's Justice Department. I don't know that we've ever had a case of someone this close to a Governor in this much potential trouble, at least not in recent times."
"Even if Manchin is not personally involved with Puccio on any of this, it's terribly embarassing for the Governor at a time when he is fighting for his political life," said Ellis. "If the smoke doesn't clear quickly on what Puccio did or didn't do, then Manchin will pay a big price on November 2nd, no doubt about it."
"Everyone knows that Manchin and Puccio have been like the Katzenjammer kids for many, many years," said Ellis. "Puccio served Manchin as his Number Two at the Secretary of State's office for four years and then for another five at the Governor's office."
"So Manchin has to come forward within the next few days and explain his relationship with Puccio, business and otherwise, to try to put some distance between himself and his old friend," said Ellis. "If he doesn't, the voters will have to think that Manchin remains tight with Larry Puccio."
"It's that simple," said Ellis. "And I really don't understand how the Democratic leaders around the state can continue to keep him on as their State Chairman while he's a target in a federal investigation."
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Is the Federal Investigation Getting Closer to Manchin?
Campaign 2010 Analysis: The U.S. Senate Race
By Huntingtonnews.net Staff
The Dominion Post featured a front page story this weekend that may be making
Governor Joe Manchin a bit more concerned about his political future.
The story focuses on a Freedom of Information request that the Dominion Post recently filed to discover what kind of business former Manchin Chief of Staff Larry Puccio had with state government after leaving the Governor's office. Due to rumors regarding possible involvement by Puccio's firm in the Fairmont Gateway road project, the Dominion Post asked for information involving that project, too.
The response the Dominion Post received back from Dwayne Tinsley, who was appointed special counsel after the federal subpoenas were issued a several weeks ago, was jarring. Tinsley explained to the Dominion Post that there was an exception to the Freedom of Information Act for any information that is currently before a grand jury. As a result, he could not fulfill the newspaper's Freedom of Information request.
In short, Tinsley's response confirmed what many had suspected all along, namely that
Governor Manchin's former Chief of Staff, Larry Puccio, was at least one of the targets
of this federal probe. The fact that Puccio continues to serve Manchin as his hand-picked
State Democratic Party Chairman only creates more problems for the Governor and the
Democratic Party as the political season hurdles to a climactic finish on November 2nd.
"This federal investigation is beginning to give the famous Manchin/Puccio relationship a certain odor about it," said Jack Ellis, Huntingtonnews.net's chief political analyst. "And there's no way that the Manchin campaign can cry foul on the Republicans for this mess they're in, as this was a federal probe initiated by the Obama Administration's Justice Department. I don't know that we've ever had a case of someone this close to a Governor in this much potential trouble, at least not in recent times."
"Even if Manchin is not personally involved with Puccio on any of this, it's terribly embarassing for the Governor at a time when he is fighting for his political life," said Ellis. "If the smoke doesn't clear quickly on what Puccio did or didn't do, then Manchin will pay a big price on November 2nd, no doubt about it."
"Everyone knows that Manchin and Puccio have been like the Katzenjammer kids for many, many years," said Ellis. "Puccio served Manchin as his Number Two at the Secretary of State's office for four years and then for another five at the Governor's office."
"So Manchin has to come forward within the next few days and explain his relationship with Puccio, business and otherwise, to try to put some distance between himself and his old friend," said Ellis. "If he doesn't, the voters will have to think that Manchin remains tight with Larry Puccio."
"It's that simple," said Ellis. "And I really don't understand how the Democratic leaders around the state can continue to keep him on as their State Chairman while he's a target in a federal investigation."
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