A major political scandal is brewing in Virginia, and it centers on what legal experts say could be a serious misuse of taxpayer money by a top Democrat.
A respected public-interest watchdog, the Liberty Justice Center, is demanding a full criminal investigation into Portsmouth Public Schools (PPS) after the district allegedly allowed newly elected Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger to use a public high school for a partisan campaign rally—completely free of charge.
According to the complaint, the taxpayer-funded school was turned into a political stage in August, with controversial attorney general candidate Jay Jones—now AG-elect—also in attendance. The watchdog says the event amounted to an unauthorized political favor worth well over the felony threshold under Virginia law.
Legal Experts Warn: “This Could Be a Felony”
Brendan Philbin, senior counsel at the Liberty Justice Center, told Fox News Digital that the situation represents a “gross misuse of public money and resources.” He emphasized that teachers and staff should have been preparing for the new school year—not providing unpaid support for a political event.
Under Virginia Code 18.2-112.1(B), using public assets for political or personal purposes without authorization can be charged as a Class 4 felony if the value exceeds $1,000. The Liberty Justice Center says this case easily clears that bar, citing:
- The rental value of multiple school rooms
- Teachers and staff on the clock
- Groundskeepers and maintenance labor
- Public resources diverted to support a campaign rally
Each of these, the group argues, added up to a significant in-kind contribution—one the Spanberger campaign allegedly never reported.
FOIA Emails Reveal What Really Happened
Documents uncovered through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request shed new light on the situation. The emails show:
- School officials offering classrooms and additional space to the campaign
- A Spanberger campaign official sending a public RSVP link to the district
- The district being told to share the rally invitation with teachers
This directly contradicts claims that the event was “private” or simply an educational gathering.
The rally was also scheduled on the first day of mandatory teacher work, when educators are required to be on campus to prepare for the new school year. Instead, taxpayer time and manpower were reportedly rerouted to accommodate a political event.
District Claims “Miscommunication”—But Questions Remain
Portsmouth Public Schools now says it believed the event was an educational program when it was booked. Once the principal realized it was a campaign event, she instructed staff not to attend. The district also claims no facility or custodial fees were needed because the building was already open, and Spanberger’s campaign provided its own security.
However, watchdog groups argue that the misuse already occurred, and that taxpayers deserve clear answers about why public resources were made available to a political campaign.
Calls for a Criminal Probe Go Unanswered
The Liberty Justice Center has formally requested that Attorney General Jason Miyares and Portsmouth Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Morales launch a criminal investigation into the alleged lawbreaking. So far, the group says it has received no response.
The unanswered questions continue to raise concerns among Virginia residents, taxpayers, and election-integrity advocates who say this situation highlights a larger issue: politicians using public institutions for political gain with no accountability.
Fox News Digital contacted PPS leadership, I.C. Norcom High School, and multiple officials for comment but did not receive responses as of publication.
