Ken Cuccinelli under attack again for questionable actions as Virginia’s Attorney General

Republican Party candidate for Virginia governor, Ken Cuccinelli, is under attack (again) by Terry McAuliffe’s campaign for improperly interfering with a class-action civil case and allegedly disallowing landowners from receiving their royalty payments.

McAuliffe’s allegations follow those made by Virginia Sen. Phillip Puckett (D-Lebanon) last week. Sen. Puckett called for an investigation into Cuccinelli’s actions vis-à-vis a state Inspector General.

In Cuccinelli’s defense, Republican Party legislators Terry Kilgore and Bill Carrico turned to the old Virginia Republican rhetorical default: the out-of-state scare tactic.

According to Kilgore and Carrico, the class-action suit in question would enrich “Mississippi trial lawyers” at the expense of Virginia landowners owed royalties from methane gas extractions.

Kilgore stated, “The most important fact about this is lawyers coming into this state, Mississippi trial lawyers, flying into this state ... and if they get their way, their clients may suffer access to their royalty payments.” It’s good to know that Kilgore and company are so concerned about the bank accounts of the average Joe Virginian.

According to Carrico, an investigation would “show the attorney general (did) what he is required to do, fighting for the people of Southwest Virginia.” If this is the case, however, wouldn’t the Virginia Republican Party want an investigation to clear Cuccinelli’s sullied name? Maybe this logic is too clear…

It may be true that McAuliffe’s campaign is using this issue for political purposes (in fact, it’s pretty much a fact), but that doesn’t take away from the truthfulness or seriousness of McAuliffe’s claim.

If anything is certain, it’s how beholden the Virginia Republican Party is to energy interests.

Full disclosure: I think Ken Cuccinelli is a detestable demagogue.