As Virginia’s gubernatorial candidates approach their first possible debate, questions of a possible conflict of interest are muddying the waters.
The Virginia Bar Association (VBA) has invited both former Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe, the Democrat candidate for his old job, and Glenn Youngkin, the Republican candidate for governor, to debate. The VBA customarily hosts a debate between the state’s gubernatorial candidates.
The two most recent debates, as reported by Breitbart, have been moderated by PBS’ Judy Woodruff. She moderated the gubernatorial debate between McAuliffe and Republican Ken Cuccinelli in 2013, during a race that McAuliffe eventually won.
But in 2010, Woodruff gave $250 to the Clinton Foundation’s “Clinton Haiti Relief Fund,” after a massive earthquake struck the island nation. That supposed charity initiative became the subject of serious corruption claims.
Not only has Woodruff shown her preference for Democrats by donating to the Clinton-run organization, but McAuliffe himself was a Clinton Foundation board member as late as 2004. He was later a board member of the Clinton Global Initiative, where he was party to a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe into that organization.
McAuliffe’s campaign has gladly accepted the VBA’s invite to debate, and has used the Youngkin campaign’s hesitancy as a talking point.
Glenn still won’t agree to participate in the VBA debate, a time-honored Virginia tradition. He will do anything to hide from his job killing record and his extreme agenda. It’s past time he stop dodging tough questions and agree to this debate, which is less than 3 weeks away,” McAuliffe said on Twitter Wednesday.
Glenn still won't agree to participate in the VBA debate, a time-honored Virginia tradition. He will do anything to hide from his job killing record and his extreme agenda. It's past time he stop dodging tough questions and agree to this debate, which is less than 3 weeks away. https://t.co/5aFLedrJGZ
— Terry McAuliffe (@TerryMcAuliffe) July 7, 2021
According to Fox News, Youngkin’s campaign responded by saying McAuliffe’s “dishonesty continues, and now it appears he is trying to sabotage our ongoing communications with the VBA.”
It appears that Youngkin does intend to participate in the debate.
“We look forward to getting to a resolution soon,” a spokesperson reportedly said.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a contributor at The Virginia Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to dabroscareports@gmail.com.