Top Youngkin aide steps down amid controversy over lieutenant governor nominee
The head of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin's (R) Spirit of Virginia PAC, Matt Moran, has stepped down from his role amid the controversy surrounding the governor calling on the GOP lieutenant governor nominee, John Reid, to suspend his campaign, according to a source familiar with internal deliberations.
The development comes a week after Youngkin called Reid to suspend his campaign after a report that Republican researchers came across sexually explicit photos on Tumblr posted by the same username Reid uses on other accounts. Reid has adamantly denied the allegations and went as far on Monday as to accuse Youngkin's team of extortion. Reid, who is openly gay, has also said the reason he is being targeted is because of his sexuality.
Virginia Republicans have flocked to Reid's defense in the face of the controversy, calling Youngkin's move 'an unforced error' and laying blame on the Spirit of Virginia PAC. Reid held a rally in Henrico County on Wednesday, which drew over 500 attendees, according to local media.
Youngkin addressed the controversy earlier this week at a press conference during a fentanyl awareness event.
'It's a distraction for campaigns and it's a distraction from people paying attention to the most important issues, and here we are today talking about fentanyl and saving lives and the distraction is present,' Youngkin said. 'That's why I called him on Friday morning.'
'And the decision is John's and up to John,' the governor continued.
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R ), who is the GOP nominee for governor, echoed Youngkin's remarks in a separate statement Tuesday evening.
'This week, focus on the lieutenant governor nominee distracted from that mission and cannot continue,' Earle-Sears said, referring to the mission 'to unite and inspire Virginians of all backgrounds.'
'John Reid is the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. It is his race, and his decision alone to move forward. We all have our own race to run.'
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