WASHINGTON -
There has been a major shakeup in the re-election campaign of Virginia Congressman Jim Moran. His son Patrick, who is also his Field Director, has resigned after being caught on tape discussing a voter fraud scheme.
The conservative group Project Veritas released the tape, just one day after Congressman Moran called on the Justice Department to investigate fraudulent voting.
In the video, a reporter for Project Veritas runs into Patrick Moran at a Cosi restaurant a block from Congressman Jim Moran's Arlington campaign headquarters, and tells him he needs help coming up with a scheme to cast ballots in the name of 100 voters who rarely show up at the polls.
Moran gives him a blueprint for voter fraud using fake documents, telling him to use a utility bill, and "forge it."
Project Veritas founder James O'Keefe says Moran's conversation with a total stranger speaks volumes.
"He's talking about what we would need to do to vote in other people's names," says O'Keefe. "Anything other than: this is outrageous, this is illegal, this is a felony, walk away, is appalling."
Patrick Moran expresses doubt about the plan, and seems to be humoring the reporter, but he doesn't dismiss him. Instead, he says, "look into it."
Within hours of the video's release, Patrick Moran resigned. Congressman Moran's campaign released a statement which reads, "Patrick is well liked and was a respected member of the campaign team. This incident, however, was clearly an error in judgment."
American University Professor Lenny Steinhorn says it was much more than that.
"Even if all he was doing was humoring an overzealous supporter, you don't do it," says Steinhorn. "You don't suggest anything about crossing the ethical line, the legal line."
Congressman Moran isn't implicated in the video and there's no indication that Patrick Moran ever committed voter fraud either.
O'Keefe says his mission is to expose evidence of fraud and let the voters decide what should happen.
Statement from Moran for Congress:
"Patrick is well liked and was a well-respected member of the campaign team. This incident, however, was clearly an error in judgment. The campaign has accepted Patrick's resignation, effective immediately."
Statement from Patrick Moran
In reference to the "O'Keefe" video, at no point have I, or will I ever endorse any sort of illegal or unethical behavior. At no point did I take this person seriously. He struck me as unstable. I thought he was joking, for only that reason did I humor him.
In retrospect, I should have just walked away, making it clear that there is no place in the electoral process for even the suggestion of illegal behavior, joking or not.
In regards to my position on the campaign, I stepped down because I do not want to be a distraction during this year's critical election.
Pat
