The State of Oregon’s Department of Justice has filed a complaint with the state bar against right-wing activist—and 2002 GOP gubernatorial nominee—Kevin Mannix, reports the Associated Press.
The complaint alleges that he violated ethics rules when he represented a veteran’s charity, the Oregon War Veterans Association and the Military Family Support Foundation to help the state's veterans, that funneled $1.1 million to his business and political activities.
The Justice Department won a default judgment against the charity, which forced it to shut down. The director of the charity was ordered to pay $746,000 in restitution.
It has been reported that Mannix netted $90,000 for 40 hours of work--which included 15 hours on a fishing trip.
Mannix started his career as a tough on crime Democrat. While he found the Republican Party more to his liking after the rise of Reagan, he sadly seems to have never learned to practice what he preaches.
Mannix has already begun claiming that he is being targeted because of his role in pushing through these unyielding laws. Predictably, he has taken no “personal responsibility.” The standard response of right-wingers is to go on the attack early and often.
Mr. Mannix is entitled to the same presumption of innocence that he granted others grudgingly, if at all. Even should he be determined to have crossed a line or blurred ethical standards, Mannix will no doubt continue to draw support from many right-wing Oregonians. He has apparently lost the backing of his longtime primary funder, though.