Washington, D.C.— Following the reports this week that a PAC supporting Patrick Morrisey is tied to two men accused of making illegal campaign contributions through a company called Global Energy Producers, the Democratic Attorneys General Association released the statement below from Executive Director Sean Rankin.

Statement from Sean Rankin, Executive Director of the Democratic Attorneys General Association:

“If Patrick Morrisey is willing to accept support from those accused of funneling foreign money into American elections, then he has no business serving as Attorney General in West Virginia.  Corruption is no stranger to Patrick Morrisey, but turning a blind eye to foreign interference into our election is beyond the pale.”

“Morrisey’s re-election campaign for AG is going to be an uphill battle for him because we are prioritizing West Virginia and will invest to take this seat. We will run on his record of failing to protect West Virginians first and lapses in judgement, and with decisions like this – taking foreign money – Morrisey is doing much of the work for us.”

Additional background:

• According to reports, a New York indictment unsealed Thursday accuses Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, both of Florida, of making illegal campaign contributions through a company called Global Energy Producers.
• The indictment accuses them of steering foreign money to U.S. politicians on behalf of the Ukrainian government. The money was also used to win support for a marijuana business.
• The indictment identifies two contributions last May 2018 — one for $325,000 and one for $15,000. Campaign finance records show the $325,000 contribution went to America First Action, a pro-Trump super PAC. The $15,000 contribution went to 35th Inc., a Morgantown-based PAC that supported Morrisey’s campaign for Senate last year.
• The indictment also suggests these two men were involved in contributions made to Republican AG and Governor races in Nevada last cycle