An explosive new story in Politico reveals that Barbara Comstock used her delegate position in Richmond to push through the legislative priorities of her paying clients – and then attempted to cover up her potential conflict of interest.
From Politico:
“Barbara Comstock shepherded a trio of bills that were opposed by labor interests through the legislature and into law…But Comstock never officially disclosed that all the while, she was being paid thousands of dollars by the Workplace Fairness Institute, a well-heeled conservative group that listed the issues advanced by the Comstock-sponsored measures among its legislative priorities.”
From David Bergstein of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee: “This is a clear example of how Barbara Comstock has abused her position as delegate and the public’s trust in order to blatantly push the legislation of her paying clients – and then tried to keep her conflict of interest a secret. Once again, Comstock is showing that she is willing to push her own right-wing agenda at the expense of Northern Virginians.”
Previously, the Washington Post reported that Comstock failed to disclose $85,000 in work for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign and the Republican National Committee, “an apparent breach of congressional ethics rules.”
BACKGROUND:
Politico: “Comstock pushed client’s issues, didn’t disclose.” “From 2011 to 2013, Republican Virginia state legislator Barbara Comstock shepherded a trio of bills that were opposed by labor interests through the legislature and into law… But Comstock never officially disclosed that all the while, she was being paid thousands of dollars by the Workplace Fairness Institute, a well-heeled conservative group that listed the issues advanced by the Comstock-sponsored measures among its legislative priorities.” [Politico, 10/8/14]
Washington Post: Comstock Failed to Disclose Clients in “Apparent Breach of Congressional Ethics Rules.” “Northern Virginia congressional candidate Barbara J. Comstock failed to report that a public-relations company she owns took in a total of $85,000 in 2012 trying to help Mitt Romney become president, an apparent breach of congressional ethics rules.” [Washington Post, 9/05/14]