Email correspondence from June 2015 between Representative Alan Grayson and his campaign manager at the time involves concern among his staff about the political damage Mr. Grayson’s hedge fund could cause his Senate bid. Background to story and H/T To Eric Lipton of NYT
Email Shows Concern About Alan Grayson’s Hedge Fund
From: Alan Grayson
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2015 10:16 AM
To: Doug Dodson
Cc:
Subject: RE: Cayman Island story
I don’t see how closing the account would change anything. The media might take that as an admission of wrongdoing.
From: Doug Dodson
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2015 8:32 AM
To: Alan Grayson
Cc:
Subject: Cayman Island story
I am afraid we are never going to be able to win this one. The reporters want to write this story badly it is pretty obvious. They are also never going to understand it all nor do they want to because they think they are on to something here.
The reality is we will just never win this one I don’t think. These article are really good fodder for our opponents to use in ads and mail etc. To try and make you look like a hypocrite and a fraud and not the populist you claim to be. It give Murphy great cover when we want to hit him for being the Wall Street puppet.
We need a strategy that puts this thing to bed if we can find one. Right now I do have any idea what it would be. I don’t know if there are any options when it comes to the account.
I am sure this is probably not an option but is there a way to close it and say its closed because you don’t want even the hint of impropriety? I know that probably isn’t possible but we need to find something if we can. This is going to be the drip, drip, drip story that never goes away and we always come out on the wrong end.
I know how infuriating this is that they continue to write this BS but the reality is it isn’t going to go away and I am not sure we can turn it around. But we need a strategy to deal with as best we can.
From: Alan Grayson
Date: Wed, Jul 1, 2015 at 8:38 AM
Subject: RE: Cayman Island story
To: Doug Dodson
Cc:
I still think that it would be taken, wrongly, as an admission of guilt, and it would set off a new round of reports. As I said yesterday, I think that we should wait and see.
From: Doug Dodson
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2015 10:36 AM
To: Alan Grayson
Subject: RE: Cayman Island story
Kevin and Ken, David and I have been on the phone brainstorming this morning. I think I can speak for all of us here that if we could close it we can make this work for us not against. If we close it before this story get more traction I definitely think it becomes afoot note in the campaign. Murphy will use the articles they already have against us. That is a battle will have to fight no matter what at this point.
But if we close it now and say something we complied with everything we were supposed to do but in order to ensure that now one misunderstands and remove any appearance of impropriety I am closing this account because it is distracting the conversation away from important issues like….
I definitely think it works for us and is absolutely the best course of action.
I don’t want to drown you in emails about this all day.
Let me get back on the phone with Kevin, Ken and David and give us a chance to strategize under the premise we could close it and let us present you with our rational and come up with a plan and how we would execute it and spin this.
In my mind there is no better way to close this chapter now and move on. If we can’t close it I honestly don’t think there is a way to put it to bed or win what will become a long protracted press battle.
Doug Dodson
Clear eyes, Full Heart, Can’t Lose ” – Coach Taylor
