The ties to West Virginia attorney general Patrick Morrisey's PAC (see previous post) are a front-page story in the Charleston paper, on the WV Metro News site, and the featured article on WV Public’s website. Of note, the Inter-Mountain, another Ogden West Virginia paper, listed it’s coverage by Ogden political reporter, Steven Allen Adams, as its top story this morning. As of 1 PM today, there is nothing on the Intelligencer website.

What’s the Intelligencer’s excuse? That the story broke too late for coverage? If you do a web search, it’s clear that the information was available late yesterday afternoon. For example, Pittsburgh TV station WTAE apparently covered it on its 6 PM newscast. Additionally, if lateness is the excuse, how then did this morning’s Intelligencer manage to feature nearly 1200 words dedicated to Trump’s political rally last night in Minneapolis?

Since Ogden's political reporter did do a story on this, we may eventually see something since they've already paid for the words. On the other hand, Morrisey and Trump are Intelligencer favorites.

Some afternoon updates

--- The afternoon News-Register did print Adams' article on the contributions to Morrisey's PAC. Adams also references WTAE's coverage.

--- Will Morrisey's PAC return the money? Apparently not, according to Roll Call:

When a PAC that supported a failed West Virginia Senate candidate found out it may have received an illegal contribution tied to two men at the center of the Trump impeachment controversy, the first reaction was to give it back.

There’s just one problem: It’s broke.

--- Morrisey's PAC isn't the only organization having financial difficulties. From Morrisey's Twitter account:

Team Morrisey needs your help. Radical liberals and the fake news go after Attorney General Morrisey because he stands for the rule of law and is the most effective conservative official in WV. Would you help Team Morrisey by donating $5, $35, or $100? https://t.co/q0jTENh0o6

— Patrick Morrisey (@MorriseyWV) September 28, 2019

You would think that a contribution would go directly to fight the "radical liberals." But that's not the case as explained by reporter Jake Zuckerman in the Charleston Gazette two weeks ago:

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey’s campaigns owe him more than $1.7 million, and he’s asking for your help. . . .

However, the fine print makes clear a donation is not a political contribution in the common use of the phrase.

The first $1,000 given goes to retire debt from Morrisey’s 2012 general election campaign. The next $1,000 given goes to retire debt from his 2016 primary election campaign. The next $1,000 goes to retire debt from his 2016 general election campaign. Only then do subsequent donations go to a 2020 political venture, then the West Virginia Republican Party.

Put simply: Using old campaign accounts as middlemen, a private citizen can give Morrisey — not just his campaign — $3,000.

A new donor would need to contribute $3,001 to give $1 to the 2020 race.

That's certainly some creative financing -- maybe we should get WV's AG to look into this. . . . never mind.