August 14, 2018 Press Releases and Announcements

DROP OUT: Scott Taylor bails on VA02 debate amid Special Prosecutor fraud investigation into his staff


by DPVA Press Office

DROP OUT: Scott Taylor bails on VA02 debate amid Special Prosecutor fraud investigation into his staff

Congressman Taylor withdraws from only scheduled debate with Elaine Luria as he faces heat for his staff's forgery of signatures 

RICHMOND, VA - Congressman Scott Taylor, whose paid staff is currently being investigated by a Special Prosecutor for forging petition signatures to get a third party candidate on the ballot in VA-02, has dropped out of his only scheduled debate with Democrat and 20 year Naval veteran, Commander Elaine Luria.

Just last week, local radio station WHRO uncovered that Rep. Taylor's paid staff forged signatures in an effort to sneak a third party candidate on the VA-02 ballot. Shortly thereafter, Roanoke Commonwealth's Attorney Donald Caldwell was appointed as a Special Prosecutor to investigate fraud in relation to this signature collection.

Faced with the having his hand caught in the cookie jar, Congressman Taylor has decided to run and hide - withdrawing from his only scheduled debate with Commander Luria.

Taylor in a series of angry tweets about his sudden debate bail, used WHRO's accurate reporting of his staff's forgeries as his excuse for running away from his debate with Commander Luria.

Wait, what?

Yes. Scott Taylor is using an independent news organization's accurate uncovering of what may be criminal fraud by his paid staff as a reason to back out of debating his opponent.

It is clear Scott Taylor will do anything to win - cheat, hide, rage tweet - other than be honest with his constituents and debate his opponent.

Whether on the ballot or in debate, why is Scott Taylor so afraid of taking Elaine Luria head on?