Richmond, VA – State Inspector General Michael Westfall announced today that the Office of the State Inspector General will open an investigation into how Governor Youngkin’s political advertising firm was awarded hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars outside of normal procurement protocols. 

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports: 

The state inspector general said Wednesday that he'll investigate allegations regarding a state tourism contract for the political media firm that works with Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

The administrative investigation will include examining whether the Virginia Tourism Corporation used an appropriate procurement process for selecting Richmond-based Poolhouse to create the video, said Kate Hourin, a spokeswoman for Inspector General Michael Westfall.

Chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, Susan Swecker, released the following statement:

“While it is unfortunate the Governor’s behavior has brought our Commonwealth to this, Virginians deserve the Inspector General’s investigation into Governor Youngkin’s misuse of our tax dollars to line the pockets of his political consultants. Virginians need to know how Glenn Youngkin’s political advertising firm was able to receive special treatment, avoid procurement laws, and end up being awarded hundreds of thousands of our taxpayer dollars to produce a campaign-style ad. For the sake of all Virginians, let’s hope that the Inspector General leaves no stone unturned in investigating the unprecedented and potentially criminal actions of the Youngkin Administration.”

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