In Letter To Editor, Ronald Russell Attempts Explanation Of Legislature’s $6.9 Million Scandal

Editor’s Note: This letter was submitted to The Consortium by former senator and delegate to Congress candidate Ronald Russell. In the letter, Mr. Russell attempts to quash what he says was the public’s refusal to accept the truth about the unreleased names of senators involved in what a 2011 Inspector General audit said was, among other things, “highly questionable practices” of the Legislature.

But the former senator begins his letter by trying to obscure the facts. He attempted to rebut The Consortium by stating that the audit did not focus on the 29th, but instead the 28th Legislature, and added that he was not part of the 28th Legislature. However, the audit, as seen here, went far back as the 26th and 27th Legislatures, which Mr. Russell was a member of.

Find Mr. Russell’s letter below.

Dear Editor:

Please allow me to correct the public record. The Consortium article is wrong about the audit being of the 29th Legislature. The audit focused on the 28th Legislature. I was not a member of the 28th legislature. As president of the 29th Legislature we did not receive any names associated with the audit nor did the president of the 30th or the 31st legislatures.

As president of the 29th Legislature, we were always willing to cooperate with all news media in releasing names of senators travel records and their office expenditures. However, the Daily News and the public wanted the names that were associated with the audit that is protected by law. Audits do not provide names. For example the most recent audit of the Lieutenant Governor’s Office did not name names but people were charged after an investigation. After the audit, there was an ongoing investigation during my presidency, which I explained in numerous press releases, letters and social media posts.

The Daily News and the public never accepted that fact nor did the public accept my written factual and legal explanations. We went to court and we provided the information that was always available to the Daily News and public regarding the travel and office expenses of each senator. The names of the audit report have never been released. I lost that election standing up for the law and protecting the integrity of the investigations.

Additionally, after the election a senator was indicted and he is now serving time. The executive director of the 28th legislature was charged, tried and is now serving his time in jail as a result of the audit investigation. The public record, time and truth has vindicated my decisions. Anyone who wants to know the truth and get a copy of the court order that denied the inquiry for the names of the audit or fully understand the investigation can obtain these documents via Virgin islands public records.

It is time to move forward. Rise Up Virgin Islands and claim your destiny!