Annapolis GOP strategy firm says the FBI raid was about a Cuccinelli lawsuit [View all]

[ehrnst]

Kelley Rogers, president of Strategic Campaign Group, said a half-dozen FBI agents arrived at the firm's Main Street office about 8:30 a.m. with a warrant to search and seize records. The FBI confirmed it conducted a raid in Annapolis but would not say where. However, an individual carrying a backpack marked FBI was seen leaving the firm's office.

Rogers, who said his firm represents the campaign committees for Maryland House and Senate candidates, told reporters that the FBI investigation concerns work the firm performed during the 2013 Virginia gubernatorial campaign of former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, a Republican.

According to Rogers, his firm settled a civil suit brought by the Cuccinelli campaign after he lost that race to Democrat Terry McAuliffe. Rogers said the investigation appears to have stemmed from allegations brought in that suit.


The Cuccinelli suit alleged that Strategic Campaign Group and the associated Conservative Strike Force Political Action Committee — an independent group not affiliated with the candidate — raised about $2.2 million by assuring donors it would spend the money to help elect the GOP candidate. The suit alleged that the PAC and Strategic Campaign Group failed to follow through on promises for an extensive media campaign on Cuccinelli's behalf.

Rogers said his firm settled the dispute for what he recalls as $75,000 at the advice of his lawyers. Press accounts put the amount at $85,000. Rogers insisted Thursday that that the Cuccinelli campaign claims have no merit.

http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/for_the_record/ph-ac-cn-fbi-raid-0512-20170511-story.html

More history on Cuccinelli and his dealings with Strategic Campaign Group:

https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2015/06/controversial-pac-conservative-strikeforce-faces-fec-questions/