(The Gazette had reported some time ago that the Justice Department had made inquires regarding business interests of former Manchin chief of staff Larry Puccio.)
The FOIA requests reportedly also seek copies of all of Manchin's daily schedules for his 5 1/2 years as governor, a complete list of employees, all travel and expense records, all furniture orders, and all information regarding state vehicles used by the governor's office.
The NRSC is also requesting a list of Manchin family members who are employed by the state, copies of all e-mails Manchin has sent from his Capitol office as governor, and all budget requests submitted to the Legislature.
Manchin said last week it is "highly likely" he will be a candidate in a special election for the remaining 2 1/2 years in Byrd's unexpired Senate term.
On Monday, Manchin said he will announce his plans "as quickly as possible" -- following completion of a special legislative session this week to clarify the state's senatorial succession law, and following his selection of a temporary appointee to the office.
Manchin announced Tuesday that he plans to make that Senate appointment by the end of the workday on Friday.
Reach Phil Kabler at ph...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1220.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Gov. Joe Manchin has not yet officially announced whether he will run for the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd's unexpired term in the U.S. Senate, but Republican operatives are already gearing up opposition research in the event he does.
Manchin spokeswoman Sara Payne Scarbro confirmed Tuesday that the governor's office has received two Freedom of Information requests from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, seeking a wide variety of documents and information covering Manchin's 5 1/2 years in office.
Scarbro said she was unable as of Tuesday evening to provide copies of the letters, and said staff attorneys are currently determining if and how to comply with the requests.
"It's my understanding these are extremely broad requests," she said.
The NRSC is the political campaign arm of U.S. Senate Republicans, and conducts fundraising, campaign advertising, campaign strategy, and opposition research for Republican candidates running for the U.S. Senate.
The NRSC did not respond to Gazette inquiries regarding the FOIA letters Tuesday.
However, the National Journal reported on its website Tuesday that the requests include any correspondence between Manchin's office and the Justice Department, as well as information regarding any conversations Manchin may have had with anyone at the White House regarding the vacancy for Byrd's Senate seat.
(The Gazette had reported some time ago that the Justice Department had made inquires regarding business interests of former Manchin chief of staff Larry Puccio.)
The FOIA requests reportedly also seek copies of all of Manchin's daily schedules for his 5 1/2 years as governor, a complete list of employees, all travel and expense records, all furniture orders, and all information regarding state vehicles used by the governor's office.
The NRSC is also requesting a list of Manchin family members who are employed by the state, copies of all e-mails Manchin has sent from his Capitol office as governor, and all budget requests submitted to the Legislature.
Manchin said last week it is "highly likely" he will be a candidate in a special election for the remaining 2 1/2 years in Byrd's unexpired Senate term.
On Monday, Manchin said he will announce his plans "as quickly as possible" -- following completion of a special legislative session this week to clarify the state's senatorial succession law, and following his selection of a temporary appointee to the office.
Manchin announced Tuesday that he plans to make that Senate appointment by the end of the workday on Friday.
Reach Phil Kabler at ph...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1220.
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