Lesinkski says: Republican Reveals, Gloats About Ethical Misconduct
As per 7Bends’ press policy as it relates to all candidates, this information was furnished by the John Lesinski campaign, and is published here verbatim:
Luray, VA – On Friday, October 23 at 1:28 a.m., Delegate Todd Gilbert revealed that he had obtained stolen information regarding the campaign of his opponent, John Lesinski. Gilbert, an Assistant Commonwealth Attorney in Frederick County, presented the specific illicit information on his Facebook page and gloated about his success in having received the information. Lesinski will discuss his reaction to this incident today at 4pm at his Campaign Headquarters, located at 5 South Broad Street, Luray, VA 22835.
Click here to view Delegate Gilbert’s Facebook Page. [Note: If the posting is removed from Gilbert's Facebook page, digital copies have been made and are available.]
The illicit information released by Gilbert was a photograph of one of Lesinski’s direct mail pieces that had not yet been released to the public, along with specific information about when the item was to be delivered by the United States Postal Service. It is unclear if Gilbert possesses any other stolen information from the Lesinski Campaign.
“No need to worry about how we got a picture of it in advance, we’re just good like that,” wrote Gilbert, referring to the direct mail piece.
Regardless of the information’s source, Gilbert’s deliberate use of ill-gotten campaign information is blatantly unethical and potentially illegal. Moreover, Gilbert’s posting of illicit campaign materials on Facebook represents a grave lack of judgment. One must also question his character, given that he expressed pride in engaging in political espionage.
The campaign materials in question were in the sole possession of Lesinski’s campaign manager from the time they were picked up at a Pennsylvania printer until they were delivered to a mail house in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Other than Lesinski and his campaign manager, only the mail house and the United States Post Office had access to the mail piece and knowledge of its delivery date. Somehow, the information left either or both of those locations and was received by Gilbert.
This morning, Lesinski submitted a letter to Gilbert demanding the following:
1. A public apology.
2. A public disclosure of the source of the illicit information and the circumstances by which Gilbert received the information.
If Gilbert fails to fulfill both of these requests by 4pm today, Lesinski intends to file an ethics complaint with the Virginia House of Delegates and pursue other disciplinary and legal actions.
