The record of Virginia Democrat congressional candidate Shannon Taylor, who previously served as Henrico County’s top prosecutor, is facing scrutiny over her handling of cases involving a campaign donor, political ally Joe Morrissey, and Democratic candidate Susanna Gibson. Concerns have been raised about instances where Taylor’s office showed leniency, declined to file charges, or handled media inquiries just before Gibson’s attorney reached out to reporters.
Taylor, who is running against incumbent Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) in Virginia’s 1st Congressional District, defends her record in prosecution, stating that her decisions have been grounded in the law and evidence.
One notable case involves John Trak, who was charged in 2018 with two felony drug offenses, despite having prior felonies that barred him from Virginia’s first-offender diversion program. Nevertheless, Taylor’s office offered him a diversion program to potentially avoid a felony conviction. Taylor justified this action as part of a policy aimed at encouraging sobriety.
However, some defense attorneys noted that their clients did not receive similar leniency. One attorney claimed that prosecutors laughed off her request for comparable treatment for a defendant with a similar background. In another instance, a prosecutor declined to reduce a felony charge for a defendant who had successfully completed drug treatment.
Trak previously donated $1,500 to Taylor’s campaign for Commonwealth’s Attorney, which was his only known political contribution at the time. Taylor later reimbursed the donation, but only after Trak’s case had been resolved.
Trak has since faced three additional felony charges, including two for driving while intoxicated, and he continues to support Taylor’s congressional campaign financially.
Another controversial figure, former Virginia State Senator Joe Morrissey, has longstanding ties with Taylor, having donated $500 to her campaign. Morrissey has a history of scandals, including a conviction related to his relationship with a minor. He has faced accusations of misconduct, including an incident where a client alleged he pressured her for sexual favors while she was under his legal representation.
After the woman rejected his advances, her case was reassigned to another attorney who pushed for a plea agreement due to concerns over payment. Morrissey later allegedly sent sexually explicit messages to her, which he characterized as “flirtatious.” Taylor’s office did not pursue charges against Morrissey, concluding that no laws were violated based on their findings.
The law in Virginia classifies as a Class 1 misdemeanor the use of obscene language over the phone with the intent to harass. In a campaign ad from September, Taylor emphasized that she acted responsibly regarding Morrissey, asserting her independence in holding him accountable as a supporter.
Furthermore, Taylor’s office faced criticism for its handling of inquiries related to Susanna Gibson during her campaign for the Virginia House. Gibson was accused of performing sex acts online for money and allegedly made offers to hotel employees for contributions. The Daily Wire reached out to Taylor’s office regarding potential legal violations by Gibson but instead of a direct answer, Taylor circulated the inquiry within her office, indicating she would handle it.
Less than 20 minutes after Taylor’s office received the inquiry, Gibson’s attorney informed the reporter that he knew about the upcoming story through an unnamed source. Ultimately, Taylor’s office did not bring charges against Gibson.
Virginia law prohibits prostitution and commercial sexual conduct, but a spokesperson for Taylor stated that her decisions are based solely on evidence and laws, citing her record of a 90% homicide conviction rate and significant reductions in violent crime. The spokesperson also claimed that Taylor has prosecuted members of her own party.
Taylor had previously signed a letter criticizing tough-on-crime policies and advocated for reforms like determining charges based on race and decriminalizing certain offenses. She has also been vocal about immigration enforcement and campaigned alongside others who have made controversial statements about border security.
Wittman, in a recent statement, faults Taylor for being too lenient in her prosecutorial approach, calling her a “progressive prosecutor” and citing specific cases where he believes justice was not served properly. He referenced instances of child sex offenses where Taylor reportedly downgraded charges from felonies to misdemeanors and examples of neglect in prosecuting cases involving abuse of vulnerable individuals.
