http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/04/02/pattern-of-corruption/snip
Since rumors began circulating that Kasey Warner was leaving his federal post, the reasons suggested for his departure have included everything from an e-mail linking him to a political campaign to the fact that Warner is related to two other prominent Republicans, brothers Kris Warner, who resigned this year as chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party, and Monty Warner, the failed 2004 Republican gubernatorial nominee.
Attempts to contact Kasey Warner were unsuccessful.
Craigo told The State Journal that just before the 2002 general election, the state Republican Party began circulating press releases indicating that Craigo was under federal investigation. The press quickly picked up the story, and Craigo lost.
Now, two and a half years later, both Warners are out of their positions, and Craigo spoke about what he has learned since 2002.
Apparently, Lisa Smith's brother, who does not live in West Virginia, contacted Craigo and, "he said there was a connection" between Kris' goal of ousting Craigo and Kasey's position as U.S. attorney. When Kris Warner couldn't raise enough money for Smith's campaign, Craigo said the federal investigation rumors began.
"Kris supposedly spoke to a Wood County Republican rally and told them what was going to happen — the federal investigation — that it was going to occur before it even happened," Craigo said. "How else would he know that?"
Craigo has other evidence that the federal investigation, which turned up nothing, was a political move brought on by the Warners.
West Virginia politics has a history of backhanded, smarmy political maneuvers, and we have had our share of crooks and smarm merchants in both parties through the years. So trust me when I say that politics in my state is still done the old-fashioned way on soooooooo many levels. But the Warner brothers brought a whole new level of political ops to the mix and rumor has it, Kris Warner – ousted GOP state party chair – was willing to do pretty much anything asked of him by Karl Rove. And I do mean anything.
I was thinking about Kasey Warner having been ushered out of his USAtty position in the Southern District of WV just the other day. I knew all about the backroom machinations rumors, and that the Warner name had become radioactive in Republican politics here, which was, supposedly, the rationale for asking Kasey Warner to step down from his USAtty position. (And how would you like to be asked to leave your cushy Federal job because your brother caused such a stink with his election activities that the FEC had to step into the mix? Nothing like publicly embarassing the Bush campaign at the last minute before the election to endear you to Karl Rove, eh? Because he sure isn't the sort to get even with you for making a mistake…no siree. Of course, it isn't the dirty tricks that were the problem — it was getting caught.)
But it wasn't until Digby's article that I put two and two together on the Craigo investigation, and all the rumors of dirty tricks that surrounded that particular investigation.
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