Billionaire Justice Uses His Businesses as Slush Fund for Campaign
Press ReleasesBillionaire Justice Uses His Businesses as Slush Fund for Campaign
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2020
Billionaire Justice Uses His Businesses as Slush Fund for Campaign
Justice Businesses Received Millions of Dollars in Taxpayer Coronavirus Payroll Relief Funds
CHARLESTON, WV– According to campaign finance reports, released earlier today by Jim Justice’s campaign, the billionaire governor is once again using taxpayer dollars to benefit himself.
Justice’s finance report lists $115,000 in unpaid bills to several of his companies including Blackstone Energy, Bluestone Resources, The Greenbrier, Glade Springs Resort, and Encore Leasing, LLC. The Justice campaign is in the red, owing more money than it has in the bank.
These are the same Justice businesses that received up to $24 million in federal financial assistance under the Payroll Protection Program.
After receiving PPP funding for his companies, Justice used the employees for his reelection campaign. A report yesterday shows some of Justice’s businesses retained “zero” jobs due to the money received as part of PPP.
The recent campaign finance reports highlight a common theme for Jim Justice: failure to pay his bills and using taxpayer money to help himself.
“If the Justice campaign actually paid their bills, maybe a billionaire like Jim Justice wouldn’t need federal government assistance,” said West Virginia Democratic State Party Chair Belinda Biafore. “As COVID-19 cases continue to rise and more small businesses are forced to make tough decisions just to stay afloat, West Virginia deserves leadership that looks out for the people, not themselves.”
Earlier today, the Salango campaign announced it had outraised incumbent Governor Jim Justice 3-to-1 in the last quarter, with a 6-to-1 cash on hand advantage. Justice reported just 6 small-dollar donations from West Virginians, indicating very little grassroots support in the Mountain State.
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