McGraw Won’t End Abuses
By The IntelligencerWest Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw is up to his old tricks - expensive ones for Mountain State residents. His pattern of misbehavior makes it clear that McGraw will stop abusing the trust placed in him only if voters withdraw it.
A major complaint made by McGraw's critics, including us, is his use of private attorneys to handle lawsuits filed by the attorney general's office. For years McGraw, in filing "consumer protection" lawsuits, has rewarded cronies. He does so by naming them as outside attorneys dealing with the suits.
From start to finish, McGraw's scheme involving such suits is rotten. As we have pointed out, proceeds of any lawsuit settlement should be paid into the state treasury by McGraw's office. Instead, he has retained the funds, dispensing them to a variety of "worthy causes" and, in the process, gaining votes for his re-election campaign - which is in progress at all times.
This spring we revealed details of a proposed settlement of one lawsuit, filed by the attorney general against two credit card companies. If the settlement is approved by a judge, the two companies will pay $11.6 million to the attorney general's office - for use in a special fund to grant consumers tax breaks on energy-efficient appliances. Another $600,000 will go to McGraw's consumer protection fund.
Nearly $4 million will be paid to four private law firms, including one in Wheeling.
With that case not yet settled formally, McGraw is off to the races again. He has appointed four more private attorneys - three of them responsible for campaign donations to him - to help the attorney general's office in an investigation that may lead up to another "consumer protection" lawsuit. If it is settled in the state's favor, rest assured that the attorneys will be paid handsomely.
Years of criticism of his practices have not prompted McGraw to change them. In November, however, voters will have an opportunity to remove him from office. Then, in the general election, McGraw will face a challenger, attorney Dan Greear, who has pledged to end the abuses practiced by the incumbent.
It has been said that "you can't teach an old dog new tricks." That may be true - but it doesn't mean that you have to continue putting up with him. In November, we trust that voters will decide they've had more than enough of McGraw's old tricks - and will vote him out of office.
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brookie
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06-22-08 9:48 AM
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It would seem that the Intelligencer's endorsement is a kiss of dead like in the WV Supreme Court race.
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richardwhee
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06-21-08 12:48 PM
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This is West Virginia, need I say more.
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wv26003
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06-21-08 10:35 AM
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It seems that since this newspaper's publishers have no real candidate for the West Virginia Supreme Court (bye bye Spike), they are going to turn their attention to the Attorney General. This editorial smells of Don Blankenship.
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