Jones filed an appeal to the First District of the Republican Party stating that the canvass had been improperly conducted because the party courted democrat voters and no loyalty to the party and the candidate was required of voters.
The First District appeals committee overturned the results of the canvass, requiring a new election. The State Central Committee of the RPV upheld the ruling of the First District, by a vote of 51 to 24, forcing a new canvass in Fauquier. Many of us thought that was the end of the story because the State Central Committee is the final arbiter in all matters of the Republican Party of Virginia, but no such luck.
Scott Russell, along with 3 other members of the Fauquier Republican Committee, James E. Rich,George C. Beveridge, and Thomas Valk, have filed a lawsuit against RPV and the First District Committee asking the court to substitute its judgement for that of the Republican Party of Virginia and set aside the ruling of the State Central Committee. Jim Rich was the long time Chairman of the 10th district of RPV and now he’s suing the party! The entire lawsuit, all 25 pages of it, can be found here.
Sources tell us RPV and the First District have not yet been served with the complaint although it has been filed in court. Sources indicate that the plaintiffs hope to induce the Republican party to reach a settlement prior to a trial. The Republican Party of Virginia has rules that govern how their party conducts their party elections and all other aspects of how the party functions. The State Central Committee has the final word in interpreting those rules. Now four people in Fauquier county are asking a court to substitute its judgement for the rules of the Republican party. Under the First Amendment the Republican Party of Virginia has the freedom of assembly and the freedom to set the rules for that assembly of people. The complainants are asking the court to set aside the First Amendment rights of the Republican Party of Virginia. With good reason, party officials view this lawsuit as little more than a nuisance.
More here.
