Delgaudio, Dems Respond to WP Article

Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling) tends to welcome a little controversy, and this week’s stories in the Washington Post about him have him revved up.

On Sept. 26, the newspaper reported on its front page a story about work by a former aide for the supervisor that appeared to cross into his private and political activities. The Loudoun County supervisor has posted a response online.

“The Washington Post seems to have no idea what it takes to help a community like Sterling,” Delgaudio wrote. “This ‘attack, attack, attack’ is standard fare for liberals who hate conservatives."

Delgaudio seems to suggest that the Washington Post reporter persuaded the aide into believing the work she had done was illegal and that the reporter failed to do her job.

"The Washington Post article is filled with inaccuracies and half truths," he said in an emailed response to Patch. "There is nothing illegal or improper to attempt to raise money for various causes or a sports league based in Sterling."

But Delgaudio’s response does not address suggestions that meetings scheduled by the aide were used to raise campaign funds.

“I admit politics and fundraising efforts can be confusing, even for those of us who work at it,” he wrote in the online response.

Earlier this year, the Southern Poverty Law Center deemed Public Advocate of the United States — the nonprofit organization Delgaudio runs when not serving his districts — a hate group. Thursday the Washington Post reported on a lawsuit filed by a gay couple whose picture was used by Public Advocate in a anti-gay rights campaign mailers in Colorado.

Delgaudio is no stranger to controversy, often crying “hyperbole” when his words offend. But he nonetheless faces criticism head on. When question arise about whether the FBI is investigating the Loudoun officials, he’s been known to wear his own “FBI” hat, which he claims stands for “full-blooded Italian.”

The Loudoun County Democratic Committee called on Delgaudio to step down.

“He has proved himself unfit for office many times over, but these accusations remove any doubt,” an LCDC statement read. “The LCDC urges Chairman York, the other supervisors on the all-Republican Board, and other Republican leaders in the County, including Congressman Frank Wolf, to decry Delgaudio’s actions and to call for resignation.”

See the Loudoun Democrats' letter here.

See Delgaudio’s online reponse to the Washington Post story here.