US Election 2024

Abigail Spanberger attacked over alleged ethics violation amid bid for VA governor

Former Democratic Congresswoman from Virginia Abigail Spanberger is facing accusations from her GOP opponent in the upcoming Virginia governor’s race regarding her failure to include her role as a trustee in financial disclosure reports while she served in Congress.

Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who is vying to succeed incumbent GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin, has labeled the incomplete disclosures as a “calculated lie” rather than an oversight. However, Spanberger’s campaign has defended her by stating that the trust in question only includes her personal residence, which is not required to be disclosed.

In 2017, Spanberger and her husband updated their will and transferred ownership of their home into a trust, naming their children as beneficiaries. The home, initially purchased for approximately half a million dollars, is now valued at close to a million dollars.

Despite establishing the trust, Spanberger did not include it in any of her annual financial disclosure reports while serving in the House of Representatives. She also did not disclose it in a recent “Virginia Economic Interest Statement” filing.

The Spanberger campaign clarified that personal residences that do not generate income are not mandated to be disclosed, and revealing the trust would compromise their privacy and safety. They emphasized that Spanberger adhered to House Ethics rules, which do not necessitate the disclosure of a trust holding only a family home.

However, the Earle-Sears campaign has criticized Spanberger’s explanations, asserting that she deliberately concealed the trust containing significant assets. They highlighted that honesty is paramount in disclosure forms and questioned Spanberger’s trustworthiness.

Moreover, the Earle-Sears campaign referenced the House Ethics Manual, which obligates members of Congress to disclose any non-governmental positions, including trusteeships. Spanberger, who represented a Virginia district from 2018 to 2024, is now seeking the governorship after Youngkin’s term limit.

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Earle-Sears, who made history as the first woman of color elected to statewide office in Virginia in 2021, is challenging Spanberger in the upcoming election. The Cook Political Report has classified the race as a toss-up, underscoring the significance of the gubernatorial contest in Virginia.

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