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McAuliffe Watch

McAuliffe Claims Support From Va. 'Republican' with Long History of Supporting Dems

Terry McAuliffe / AP
June 11, 2013

Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe labeled real-estate developer Bruce Thompson as a Republican supporter of his campaign despite his long, scandal-filled history with the Democrats.

The campaign announced Thompson’s endorsement on Friday, noting that it followed a series of endorsements "from well-known Republicans" earlier that week.

Unmentioned by the campaign is that Thompson was at the center of a major political scandal stemming from his close friendship and support of a prominent Virginia democrat, Chuck Robb.

Robb, a former Virginia governor and U.S. senator, put his political career in jeopardy when he began going to wild "coke 'n' whore" parties hosted by Thompson and others in his Virginia Beach real-estate crowd.

Thompson obtained an illegal recording of a political opponent badmouthing Robb and handed it over to Robb’s staff.

Almost immediately after the tape was leaked to the press an investigation was launched into how Robb came into possession of the recorded phone conversation.

Robb came out of the investigation without being charged, largely because Thompson and Robb’s staff members took the fall for him.

The Justice Department charged Thompson with eavesdropping, conspiracy, and witness tampering.

Thompson has made sizable contributions to many Democratic candidates and groups, apart from the $25,000 he contributed to the McAuliffe campaign last month.

Thompson even contributed $2,500 to the Democratic Party of Virginia in 2010.

Additionally, Thompson contributed $4,800 to Democrat Mark Warner, and $6,700 to the Democratic candidate in his congressional district, Glenn Nye.

Just this December, Thompson gave $5,000 contributions to both ActBlue and Forward Together PAC, two left-wing PACs.

Published under: Terry McAuliffe