Va. GOP Chief Quits Over Eavesdropping

[Rose Siding]

RICHMOND, Va. -- State Republican Chairman Gary R. Thomson resigned on Tuesday and said he would plead guilty to a misdemeanor in an eavesdropping scandal that has shaken Virginia's dominant political party.

Thomson said he has cooperated with federal and state investigators looking into Republicans who secretly listened in to a conference call among Democratic Party legislators and Gov. Mark R. Warner in March 2002.

Last month, Edmund A. Matricardi III, the state GOP's former head, was sentenced to three years of probation and fined $5,000 for his part in the eavesdropping.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-gop-eavesdropping,0,666217.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

I heard about this guy's measly fine for the crime of political espionage last month but.....HE DIDN'T EVEN LOSE HIS JOB?????

[onehandle]

1. Criminal activity is status quo for Republicans....

It's their trade, after all.

[bspence]

2. Well, that was probably implied that he'd be taken out of office

I'm from VA. I moved to MD because VA is WAY too conservative nowadays.

I can't believe the number of Republicans who have been trying to manipulate the elections process before, during, and after the votes have been cast. Their arrogance is shameful, and the public's dismissal of it is downright scary.

[ameriphile]

3. Shades of Watergate

n/t

[VolcanoJen]

4. Kick!

:dem: