Exactly what is it Chad Dotson does?
Sunday, May 07, 2006
I've never met Chad Dotson. I occasionally read his blog. I think he is probably a good guy who I disagree with vehemently on political issues. I also think he holds some responsibility for the total lack of law and order in Wise County.
As the chief law enforcement officer in the county, and an elected one at that, Chad needs to come forth and explain how these things continue to happen right under his nose without his acting to stop them.
The Roanoke Times reports today, "Authorities believe that "past and present public officials" in Appalachia took kickbacks from the businesses in exchange for directing town police officers to allow the illegal activities to continue, said Tim McAfee, the special prosecutor overseeing the investigation."
While Chad is not suspected of being one of those officials, what has he done to stop this behavior? There is no doubt in my mind that one can live-especially the Commonwealth's Attorney--in a small community like Wise County and not know that "some members and ex-members of Appalachia Town Council are suspected of frequenting the gambling houses, which are run out of vacant storefronts on the town's dusty and dilapidated Main Street. Open for business every day but Sunday, the establishments reportedly offer wagering on poker games and sporting events."
Maybe with his love of baseball, movie reviews, and self promotion, Chad just doesn't have time to do his job.
Chad loves to remind folks that he is Virginia's first elected blogger. I sincerely hope the Wise County Democrats get together and make him Virginia's first elected blogger to lose an election. If they don't at least put someone up there against him, then I am not sure they deserve to even have a committee.
posted by Libertas @ 12:47 PM,
52 Comments:
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At 2:23 PM,
said...
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Good analysis.
Like his contributor, Will Vehrs, Mr. Dotson is living on the "edge" by blogging on tax payers time if you ask me. -
At 3:20 PM,
said...
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Vehrs and Dotson are in very different situations. It appears that Vehrs is getting his work done while Dotson appears impervious to whats going on around him.
Dotson is blatantly building himself up for a broader office. I think when he does, he will be sourly surprised at how little influence being the first elected blogger will garner him. -
At 4:08 PM,
said...
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You've stepped in it now, boy.
You will rue the day you attacked a head honcho blogger when all his blogging acolytes descend on you like flies to shit.
Just you wait, boy!
You've been warned! -
At 4:16 PM,
said...
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Also, keep in mind he was EMPLOYED by the Town of Appalachia in addition to his regular job as Comm Atty.
That is why he had a conflict and Mcafee was appointed special prosecutor.
Are the Wise dems running anyone against him? If so, I will drive down and help them. -
At 4:40 PM,
said...
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I'd say Perseverando has his own acolytes to defend him, but he doesn't need it.
I did a quick search of images on Google and found some good ones of Dotson.
Did I hear some one warming up their photoshop? -
At 6:03 PM,
Tom James (aka Brave Hart) said...
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I wonder if someone could get Mr. Dotson to reply to my emails as to why he has blocked my ability to comment on his site?
I guess he's not a big supporter of the first amendment -
At 6:22 PM,
Neal said...
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This is what we call a "shot across the bow."
Very interesting to see. I hadn't even thought of a Dotson-Appalachia connection... -
At 6:30 PM,
said...
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Give me a break. The folks out in Wise love Chad. That's why he's been elected and reelected subsequently.
There is no proof to suggest that Chad Dotson is doing anything but a superb job. As for public corruption, look at Lynchburg. There was practically no involvement on behlaf of CA Bill Petty. Can't it be possible that the Feds have already staked their claim in this area? Most likely.
When he totally messes up, then I'll give your side of things the benefit of the doubt, but just let me make it clear, whether a Democrat, Independent, Libertarian, or even a Republican, there still are statesmen out there. And Chad Dotson is clearly on that list. -
At 6:37 PM,
said...
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Those in trouble in Appalachia are democrats. Drop this subject fast. Your fighting a losing battle with this post. Not that you have any credibilty anyway.
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At 7:33 PM,
said...
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Dude, step away from the bong.
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At 7:53 PM,
said...
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Dirty vote buying DEMOCRATS...Fact
Chad Dotson well liked...Fact
I think you better do some homework on Wise County. Very low crime rate. People here in Norton would laugh at your silly ass for this post.
If you want to bring up that those guilty in Appalachia are DEMOCRATS...so be it. -
At 8:17 PM,
said...
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What a moronic post.
If you'll notice, that article in the Roanoke Times said this has gone on for years. But it was broken up -- on Chad Dotson's watch. No other Commonwealth Attorney looked into it.
The Appalachia voter fraud investigation was into activities that had gone on for years in that little town. Who started that investigation? Chad Dotson.
Recently, a huge drug ring was busted up thanks to Dotson. Read the papers occasionally; he just indicted a corrupt police officer, as well.
You don't have the first idea what's going on in Wise County. There's a reason the Democrats can't find anyone to run against Dotson; he can't be beaten. -
At 8:47 PM,
Libertas said...
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I don't care if the crooked pols are Democrats or Republicans or my own Mother (I'm not Kilgore if anyone is interested). I don't understand why all of this is uncovered by a special proscutor and NOT CHAD DOTSON.
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At 8:49 PM,
Libertas said...
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Also, isn't it funny that not one person willing to defend Dotson's job performance is also willing to post a name?
Perhaps because repeated posted will make the same person look silly! -
At 9:05 PM,
said...
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Again, you should read the papers. The Roanoke Times has reported on several occasions that Dotson got these investigations started, and that the State Bar made him get a special prosecutor appointed because of a conflict of interest.
You really don't understand the way law enforcement works, do you?
And I notice that you aren't using your real name, either. -
At 9:11 PM,
said...
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http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/0-0&fp=445e3b9c799eea35&ei=65leRICwBcGaaJXv9L8J&url=http%3A//www.wavy.com/Global/story.asp%3FS%3D4789197%26nav%3D23ii&cid=0
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At 9:25 PM,
said...
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Sorry about that last link. See here, and here and here and here and especially this one, which discusses Dotson's role in cleaning up the election fraud in Appalachia, and here and here and here and here and here and here and here.
He's barely been in office two years, and it appears that he's been VERY busy. -
At 9:25 PM,
said...
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That should tell you "exactly what it is Chad Dotson does."
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At 9:48 PM,
Libertas said...
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I haven't said he does nothing. Simply doing your job isn't a reason to brag. Mr. Dotson's pursuit of DUI cases and the prosecution of sex offenders are par for the course.
HOW DID HE MISS THREE STOREFRONT GAMBLING OPERATIONS?
That is what I am asking. Thanks for the links though. -
At 9:54 PM,
said...
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He didn't miss it, or are you too dense to understand that point? He is the one who OPENED THE INVESTIGATION into it! He's the first Commonwealth Attorney ever to bring these people before the public eye.
Your desire to bring him down is blinding you to the facts. -
At 9:56 PM,
said...
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The entire premise of your post is faulty. The news reports make clear that it actually was Dotson who uncovered this activity. He just had to hand it. over to a special prosecutor at some point, at the direction of the state bar. But that doesn't change the fact that none of this would have even have been investigated if it weren't for Dotson.
I know you want him to lose his next election, but you haven't thought this particular line of attack through all the way. Dotson actually did the right thing here. -
At 9:58 PM,
Libertas said...
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I have no desire to bring the guy down. I just don't understand how he missed THREE STOREFRONT GAMBLING OPERATIONS?
According to the Roanoke Times, he didn't break that, Mcafee did. -
At 9:58 PM,
said...
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Your storefront gambling
""This has been going on for years in this town. They should have done this years ago," she explained. "Of course, they've tried before. But somehow they'd always get tipped off."
Now on Chad Dotsons watch with the investigation he got started, the crooks are shut down. -
At 10:00 PM,
said...
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He didn't miss it, he started the investigation.
You should just take down this post and go apologize to the guy. The entire argument you are making is absurd. -
At 10:02 PM,
said...
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You can keep saying he missed it, but that doesn't change the fact that this never would have come to light if Chad Dotson hadn't opened the investigation. That's a plain fact.
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At 10:04 PM,
Libertas said...
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Look, I'm not trying to "take him down" or anything of the sort. I simply find it odd that the man in charge of law enforcement in Wise County spends so much time online when he has so much to clean up at home.
I dont care if he wins his elections with a 49 point lead. Milli Vanilli sold a million records.
It is my opinion, and an opinion only that he should be working more and blogging less. -
At 10:08 PM,
VirginiaCitizen said...
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Point of fact: you don't live in Wise County and you don't have the first clue how much time he spends at work.
It's been well-documented (in the Washington POst and Richmond TImes-DIspatch) that he does his blogging late at night and sets the posts to release during the following day. -
At 10:27 PM,
Whatamaroon said...
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That was supposed to be a joke. Bugs Bunny used to say "What a maroon." It was supposed to be funny.
Thanks for calling me a tard, though. -
At 10:31 PM,
Libertas said...
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If you're gonna call me a name, spell it right. I assume you're attempting to call me MORON, and not MAROON. As I am not a grad of Roanoke College, MORON is more applicable.
Nevertheless, I will delte any comment that only calls me a name. It my blog and my perrogative.
If you have a point-make it. Keep calling names and Ill just turn of comments. -
At 10:31 PM,
Whatamaroon said...
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I used to think this blog was funny, and that some of the stuff you posted was pretty clever.
I just don't understand this attack on another blogger. It's kinda out of character and, frankly, given the information above, pretty unfair.
Just my opinion. -
At 10:41 PM,
Libertas said...
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Sorry to disappoint you Maroon,
I don't think bloggers deserve any deferential treatment because they blog.
I think and have said to many that I believe it is inapporpriate for a CA to blog in the first place.
I also think Chad should explain why the special prosecutor discovered these guys and he didn't. The fact that he opened an investigation tow years ago is inconsequential-to me at least.
I'm sory if we disagree on this. I said in my initial post that Chad is probably a good guy. I can't say as I don't know him personally.
I'd personally have a hard time voting for him in light of what I DO KNOW. With that said there may be a million things-and I am sure there are-that I don't know.
I'm not apologetic for my opinions, and I am certainly not taking this down. -
At 10:48 PM,
Whatamaroon said...
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How do you know he didn't uncover it? All you are doing is speculating. You don't have any idea what information he found in his investigation that he then turned over to the special prosecutor.
It's all just speculating, and it's very unfair, since you don't know what actually happened. Perhaps you could do some investigating of your own to find out what really happened. If your guesses turned out to be true, then you'd have a great post.
Until then, all you've done is just provide innuendo and guesswork.
It looks to me like you were in too much of a rush to post this before you found out the facts. -
At 10:50 PM,
poet romantic said...
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This again shows this bloggers stupidity.
You talk about crime in Wise County..show us some facts that it is out of control? Show us why our Sheriff was unopposed in the last election.
For those who want facts on Wise county law enforcement you can look here
http://www.wiseso.net/
If all this Wise county crime is there..please show us some proof. You cant because the crime rate is low. The conviction rate is high and you are full of B/S. The man you are attacking is well respected by both parties and voters. -
At 10:53 PM,
Whatamaroon said...
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I missed wher eyou said "there may be a million things-and I am sure there are-that I don't know."
I have to give you credit for saying that. At least you are acknowledging that you don't know the entire story, and that's really a big part of what I've been saying. It's to your credit.
I respectfully disagree, though. From my perspective, Dotson has done exactly what he was elected to do. And the evidence that I see shows that he is the one who started the actual investigation that uncovered this stuff. It wouldn't have been uncovered if it weren't for him.
It looks to me like you are attacking him without knowing the whole story. It's stuff like this that makes people think the blogosphere has a credibility problem. It's an unfair attack in which you acknowledge that you don't have all the facts.
Thanks, however, for allowing me the forum to discuss it with you. I give you credit for not just turning off the comments. -
At 10:58 PM,
Libertas said...
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I can only go on what is reported.
Knowing how Dotson promotes himself, it is hard to believe that he would uncover such and not issue a press release. I mean just look up at the comment with all of the links. He issues press releases all the time. -
At 11:01 PM,
Whatamaroon said...
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You don't issue press releases on pending investigations. I think he can get a pass on not hampering the investigation by releasing details to the press.
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At 11:24 PM,
poet romantic said...
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Libertas said...
I can only go on what is reported.
Please show us what was reported about crime in Wise county being out of control. Crime Rates are public info...lets seet it. You did no research what so ever. If you did you would know what all of Wise County knows. You my friend are
The Weenie of the Week for sure. -
At 6:40 AM,
ms. garlick said...
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Has everyone from this mans family finished posting yet? This is a BLOG people. A BLOG. Get off the high horses and wait for the next entry...
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At 8:54 AM,
Subpoena said...
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This is the most uninformed closed-minded post to ever appear on a blog in the history of blogs. As a member of law enforcement, I take offense to this judgmental post. First, Dotson is not an investigator. Sure, he can open an investigation, but law enforcement investigates crime. Second, do you think you can just hear that maybe something criminal is going on and rush right in? There are investigations that take years of research and investigation. You just can't speculate and rush in and take down a drug ring and gambling ring. It takes time. You obviously have no understanding or involvement in law enforcement.
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At 10:05 AM,
said...
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You're right subpoena, I haer Libertas hates Doughnuts.
As for the guy who asks about reports of crime in Wise County. Do the election fraud charges not count?
As I understand, Dotson was close enough to these goons that he couldn't conduct the investigation, but just far enough away from them that he didn't know what was going on.
What was it the church lady used to say? -
At 10:52 AM,
poet romantic said...
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Fuzz
Your statement makes no sense. Yes voter fraud counts and Chad busted them for it. Da! I think you should read the articles linked.
Kinda funny that no other left wing blogger is even linking or giving this story any credit. If there was a story here..NLS would be all over it. -
At 12:36 PM,
Stomp Allen said...
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Ever heard the saying, My Lady Doth Protest Too Much?
Well you all are protesting way too much. Must be something to that. -
At 3:21 PM,
ms. garlick said...
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This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
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At 5:56 PM,
said...
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I was told on the streets of Richmond today about Mr. Dotson and all the smoke engulfing him in Wise County. Is this the same Chad Dotson that the General Assembly is considering placing on the bench? If it is, we must all strongly express our huge concern about the integrity of this guy with the elected members of the Courts of Justice Committee in the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate. I am a moderate Republican who is sick of all the scandals that have hit not only our party but the liberal Democrats as well. I called a former law school classmate of mine who practices in Bristol this afternoon, and he said, "Dotson is a walking scandal waiting to embarass our party." Is anybody stupid enough to think the Democrats won't exploit a guy in the 2007 House of Delegates and Senate elections who at the very best turned his back on crime in his own community and was put on the bench by our party?
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At 6:07 PM,
said...
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A response to Mr. Davis--As a liberal Democrat, surely to God the Republicans aren't that stupid.
At least, the ones in Richmond aren't. Your Republican party already has an anchor around its neck called George W. Bush. They won't put another one around it named Chad Dotson. -
At 9:10 PM,
J.Sarge said...
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Just a quick question: where can I find the party affiliation of the indicted council members? I've looked online but come up empty handed. Suggestions?
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At 10:03 PM,
said...
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Puhhleeze, C.Davis, the only smoke is on this thread. It's a joke.
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At 10:16 PM,
Bill Dotson said...
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I have not heard one negative thing said about Chad Dotson since he took office. Well, I've not talked to any crimminals though. Maybe they'd have someting to say. It's difficult for someone who's not local to know what's going on down here especially if all they know is what they read in the paper.
I can vouch for the fact that Chad is a fine young man and is working very hard to make Wise County a better place to live. -
At 1:24 AM,
Libertas said...
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Well, Bill, thanks for the comment. I have more connections to Wise County than you might think. And for what it is worth, my family thinks I'm pretty nifty, too!
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At 10:28 AM,
said...
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"Total lack of law and order in Wise County"?
That made me laugh out loud. Really! It was hard to take the rest of the post very seriously. Wise isn't exactly south central L.A. in 1992.
I was born and raised in Wise, but don't live there anymore. I've known Chad for years, but certainly don't always agree with him (more often not, actually). I have been gone so long that I don't pay attention to the local politics back home, so this isn't meant to defend Chad, but to defend Wise itself. To insinuate Wise is suffering from an utter lack of lawlessness is irresponsible and perhaps a bit offensive to the residents. I might be wrong, but I don't think the gambling in Appalachia was a Bellagio-esque establishment, complete with a pit-boss, neon signs, and choreographed water show out front. Frankly, Appalachia is off the beaten path. You have to be looking for it to find it, and even then you could miss it. I daresay there are residents from the other end of the county who've never been to Appalachia, and wouldn't know how to get there. In short, it would be easy to conceal something like that in an area so rural.
"Total lack of law and order…"? Ridiculous. It certainly isn't utopia, but it isn’t exactly anarchic either. Any credibility you may or may not have had with me took a nose dive when you used such a laughable and uninformed characterization in the first paragraph of your post. -
At 12:20 AM,
said...
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"I was told on the streets of Richmond today about Mr. Dotson and all the smoke engulfing him in Wise County."
This is my first ever post on this site, or any blog, and I dare say this is the most outlandish and unfounded quote by Mr. Davis of Richmond that I've ever seen. It's funny how the internet and bloggers bring out all these people that seem to know all about Wise County. Within the past year I have lived in both Wise County and Richmond for a short time. I would also like to see the stats that crime is rampant in Wise County. That inference completely made me laugh out loud. Wise County is truly one of the few places in Virginia where there is virtually no violent crime with the rare exception. Compared to my time in Richmond in which I will just say, it's a very race-divided city in my opinion and one of the most hostile places I've ever walked down the street and truly been afraid of what might happen. This compares to Wise County where I would literally leave my car running to run into the post office and people can be seen walking/jogging on the sidewalks well after sunset.
As someone that actually lives Wise County, beyond having some distant connection, I find many of these posts insulting not only to political leaders, but to all residents of the area. I'm fairly certain these are the same people that are asking if Southwestern Virginia has running water.
As far as the Appalachia situation, that has been going on well back into the 1960s and was run in truly run down bars in the back rooms by the 'Good ol boy' style of business, meaning that you had to know somebody to get inside the circle. The business was only conducted by a select circle of friends with little knowledge to outsiders. I only know as much about the history from my father who was a miner in the area many years ago. Dotson was the first Commonwealth's Attorney for the region that actually decided to look into the 'outlandish' rumors. As a result of this and other drug roundups, most people I know have been very happy with his tenure in office.
According to local papers, it was mainly rumors and smoke about voter fraud and other activity in Appalachia that had been going on for years. Dotson was the first CA to take these rumors and look into them after hearing about the losing candidate in the Appalachia mayor's race talk of how some people asked what he would buy for them or something to that effect. He promptly opened the investigation and appointed a special prosecutor because of his ties with the Appalachia government working as the Wise County Comm Atty. And yes, all accused individuals at this point ran as Democrats. I would like to encourage most of you posting inflammatory opinions to please do more research instead of 'starting your own fire and pointing at the smoke.' -
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