A nonpartisan public-interest litigation group is calling for a criminal investigation into Portsmouth Public Schools (PPS), alleging the school division improperly used taxpayer resources to host a political rally for now-Governor Abigail Spanberger in August.
According to Fox News, the Liberty Justice Center says the rally, held at I.C. Norcom High School, featured Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones, now AG-elect, and was provided free of charge.
“This is just a gross misuse of public money and resources,” Brendan Philbin, senior counsel at the Liberty Justice Center, told Fox News Digital. “The time of teachers and the maintenance staff and everyone should be, at this point, getting ready to start the new school year. But instead, they’re using all this time and resources to host this gratuitous political event.”
Philbin argued the alleged actions could be a felony under Virginia law if public resources are used for nonofficial purposes exceeding $1,000.
“If an official causes public assets, resources or labor to be used for a cause other than what they are intended for, and the value of that is over $1,000, then it’s a felony in Virginia,” he said.
The group alleges PPS violated Virginia law 18.2-112.1(B), which prohibits misuse of public assets. The law defines public assets broadly, including personal property or labor paid for by a government entity.
“Any full-time officer, agent, or employee…who, without lawful authorization, uses or permits the use of public assets for private or personal purposes unrelated to the duties and office…is guilty of a Class 4 felony,” the statute reads.
According to the Liberty Justice Center, the value of the services rendered—rooms, teacher time, and staff labor—exceeded $1,000.
Emails obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request show the principal, Teesha Sanders, offered additional classrooms for the event if needed. The rally occurred on the first day of the teacher work period, typically reserved for staff preparing for the school year.
The Liberty Justice Center also alleges Spanberger violated campaign reporting laws by failing to disclose the “in-kind” contribution from the school board.
Portsmouth Public Schools told Fox News Digital the district believed the event was educational, not political, and once the principal realized it was a campaign rally, staff were told not to attend. A spokesperson said the buildings were already open, no fees were charged, and security was provided by the campaign.
The Liberty Justice Center has written to Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares and Portsmouth Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Morales, requesting an investigation, but has received no response.
