Mathieson campaign embezzled?
By JR Hoeft | Friday, September 11th, 2009 | PoliticsJason Robinson, formerly of the Del. Bobby Mathieson campaign and legislative office since 2007, has been accused by his boss of embezzling money.
Vivian has the Mathieson statement.
“I am outraged that a member of my staff has defrauded my campaign and abused his position. I have full confidence that the police investigation will determine the depth and severity of this crime and ensure a proper resolution to this investigation and prosecution.”
As one who is duped should be.
One thing Mathieson is correct about: the question certainly does have to do with depth and severity. If Mathieson doesn’t even recognize fraud under his own nose, how can he be expected to protect the taxpayer’s dollars?
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Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.
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16 Responses to "Mathieson campaign embezzled?"
Except that he did recognize it, and called the police. If he hadn’t recognized it, you wouldn’t be writing about it because you wouldn’t know about it yet.
True, Kyle. And kudos to Del. Mathieson for taking the right course of action (of course, what other action would he take?).
However, I think details will likely surface later that will indicate that this didn’t happen overnight, but over the course of a long period where Mathieson didn’t recognize he was being defrauded.
Most people keep regular tabs on their financial situation and would catch errors quickly. In this case, it might turn out that it has taken Mathieson years.
I didn’t expect you would be the one to try to make political hay out of this, Jim. Do you have any idea how many people are the victims of embezzlement? Let me clue you in: it happens all the time. In fact, it happens so much that were Mathieson not an elected official, the newspaper would have never printed the story.
I’ve been a practicing CPA for 23 years and I can’t count the number of times this has happened to clients, neighbors and friends. It’s not a matter of not “keeping tabs;” it’s a matter of trust.
Since when is “blame the victim,” the proper Republican response to the discovery of a crime?
And I didn’t think Bobby Mathieson and the DPVA would make “political hay” by launching negative attacks on a councilman who missed a couple meetings because he was taking care of his sick daughter and was sick himself.
Mathieson brought this campaign to a low before Labor Day. So, color me unsympathetic to his plight when I merely question his managerial abilities.
I’m just pointing out that Mathieson had the opportunity to catch this long ago…it took him more than two years.
Folks can interpret that how they wish.
I’m not blaming Mathieson, Steve.. I’m merely saying that if he can’t keep his own house in order, how can he expect to keep the people’s house in order? My statement is political and has very little to do with his victimization.
But by your logic, Steve, I’m sure you also condemn Obama for his association with Rev. Jeremiah Wright who did blame America for being victimized on 9/11. I’m sure you recall that Wright said that “America’s chickens have come home to roost”, effectively saying we deserved the attack on 9/11. And, that America was the “U.S. of KKK A”. Or that it’s not “God bless, America; but God damn, America!”
JR: You mentioned “a councilman who missed a couple meetings because he was taking care of his sick daughter and was sick himself.” That surprises me. I didn’t realized Ron and/or his daughter have been sick since 2002. His lateness record has been a council “inside joke” for at least six years… But “illness” happens to all of us from time to time.
I hope they get better soon. There is no reason to send an ill person to Richmond representing the 21st district.
I think the comment implying that Bobby Mathieson is somehow not able to be trusted because a trusted member of his staff broke that trust and stole money is a VERY CHEAP SHOT!
Good grief.
We should at least have some sympathy for the victim of a crime.
This attack is very sad. Stick to the issues, voting records, and yes – the attendance record of an elected representative is clearly fair game.
Pathetic.
And you know this has been going on for two years how?
Produce the evidence, Jim. Produce it – or stop speculating.
Hmm… phony outrage… the “they started it” excuse… leaping to conclusions that fit your argument… and a healthy dose of misplaced, smug self-righteousness…
Oh my God, Hoeft is Kirwin! Kirwin is Hoeft! NOOOOOOOOO
and anonymous commenters suck their thumbs on street corners
That’s the great thing, Vivian. I know that it’s already being investigated by the police, so I don’t have to produce any evidence: they’re already gathering it. So, we’ll all know soon enough.
But, it’s a free country and I’m entitled to my theories. I hardly can believe this happened over night. Can you?
All,
How is this an “attack”? I still don’t see it. I’m merely asking questions about his ability to manage the public funds.
Where do I “attack” him?
Mathieson’s gay aide has been stealing funds for years. He has a drug dependency problem from what I’ve heard. How much of the money was spent with his “special friend” Brett McKenizie of the VB School Board? What did Brett know and when did he know it???
More importantly, Vivian, what tools did Mathieson have in place to prevent fraud? Did he ever look at his bank statement? Has he been filing fraudulent campaign and expenditure reports? For how long?
Mathieson cannot manage a staff of ONE person and the books of a hundred thousand dollar enterprise. How can he then sau he qualified and prepared to serve on what is essentially Virginia’s Board of Directors???
He attacked Welsh for declaring bankruptcy. How is this really any different. Mathieson is a horrible manager and he should have known that having somoene like Jason around would eventually come back to haunt him.
JR: You asked about your attack. You attacked him when you wrote” If Mathieson doesn’t even recognize fraud under his own nose, how can he be expected to protect the taxpayer’s dollars?”
The attack surfaced from the fact that Mathieson had already reported it to the State Police so he had “recognized the fraud.” However you made a point to claim Mathieson didn’t or couldn’t. That was your needless “attack” from my prospective.
Keep in mind I never had a problem with your reporting the crime. It was your spin that I found offensive and needless. I think you have a pretty good balance in your normal postings which I appreciate. Just a bit over the top with this one IMO.
Anyway, on with the war…
Did anyone bother to do a background check on Jason Robinson? It appears
that he does not have a good reputation. Did donated money go in his pocket?
Since Sept 11th nothing else has been reported on. Meanwhile Jason Robinson
has left the area and from what I have been told, he left the place he was renting
a complete mess.
Say Goodbye Bobby
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