Press Releases
Congressman Ben Cline Calls For Ethics Investigation into Virginia Lawmakers’ Threats Against VMI Board
Washington,
February 19, 2025
Congressman Ben Cline is calling for an immediate ethics investigation into reports that members of the Virginia General Assembly have engaged in political coercion, attempting to strong-arm members of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Board by threatening to withhold funding if they do not extend the contract of VMI’s superintendent. These disturbing actions reveal a clear and troubling effort to exert undue influence over VMI’s governance. “The idea that members of the General Assembly would use their positions of power to intimidate VMI Board members by conditioning funding on the extension of the superintendent’s contract is not just inappropriate, it is an outright abuse of power,” said Congressman Cline. VMI, one of the nation’s most storied military institutions, has long upheld a tradition of service, leadership, and honor. The men and women who serve on its Board of Visitors should be free to make decisions in the best interest of the school, its cadets, and its mission, without political interference from members of the General Assembly seeking to force ideological conformity. In his letter, Congressman Cline highlighted that one VMI Board member reported that Senator Jennifer Carroll-Foy stated the following: “I am just trying to help VMI. Cedric is African American. The leadership of the General Assembly is African American. Your board appointments and budget amendments are in peril. You can fix this by giving Cedric a four-year contract extension.” “These comments, wholly unbecoming of a member of the General Assembly and completely inconsistent with the values of our nation, make plain the leadership of the General Assembly is attempting to exert undue influence on the decisions of the Board in exchange for funding priorities of VMI,” Cline continued. Congressman Cline is demanding immediate accountability for those responsible and calling for an ethics investigation into this outrageous abuse of power. He will continue to stand with VMI against political intimidation and ensure that its mission remains intact, free from coercion and political interference.
|