'Facts matter': GOP feud reaches fever pitch as top Virginia Republican breaks his silence

Matt Moran, Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s top political strategist and head of the Spirit of Virginia PAC, broke his silence Wednesday evening, rejecting accusations that he tried to pressure GOP lieutenant governor nominee John Reid out of the race and declaring that “facts matter.”

Youngkin’s political adviser under fire as extortion allegations rock Virginia GOP

Less than two hours before Reid was set to appear solo at a GOP rally in Henrico County after Youngkin canceled the event originally scheduled for the entire statewide Republican slate, Moran took to social media to push back on what he called “unfounded” claims and released a sworn affidavit along with a pointed legal letter from his attorney.

“I’ve known John Reid for years and consider him a friend,” Moran wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Over the last nine days, I was actively supporting and assisting John as the Lt. Governor nominee of the Republican Party. Let me be clear, facts matter, and they will demonstrate the accusations against me are unfounded.”

Moran also posted a letter from his attorney, George Terwilliger III, addressed to Reid’s campaign. In it, Terwilliger disputed Reid’s version of events, suggesting Reid had been misled.

“From that sequence, I am going to assume, until it is demonstrated otherwise, that you were not provided sufficiently reliable information,” Terwilliger wrote, adding that “erroneous conclusions… manifested as the unsupported accusations against Mr. Moran.”

The lawyer said Moran took “the extraordinary step” of signing an affidavit to affirm “accurate fundamental facts” and show that the allegations “are unfounded.” Terrwilliger urged Reid to retract his claims and warned of potential legal consequences if the “unfounded and untoward accusations” continue, saying “such demands were made of Mr. Moran,” and all related materials should be preserved.

“To be clear, Mr. Moran strongly denies that he has defamed Mr. Reid in any manner whatsoever,” Terrwilliger wrote. “The facts, evidence, and witnesses would demonstrate that Mr. Moran never attempted to extort, coerce, or pressure Mr. Reid… but rather as a seasoned professional endeavored to provide sound advice regarding the viability of Mr. Reid’s candidacy to someone he counted as a friend.”

Still, Terwilliger signaled a willingness to cool tensions, asking the Reid campaign if they were open to “scheduling a call where we might further discuss the matter.”

The public response marks a new phase in a feud that has roiled Virginia Republicans since last week — pitting the governor’s inner circle against the party’s first openly gay statewide nominee in a clash that’s turned deeply personal and politically damaging.

In deepening Va. GOP crisis, Reid accuses Youngkin PAC of extortion. Is a legal battle ahead?

Reid, a conservative radio host and longtime personality on WRVA, escalated the firestorm Sunday, which began two days earlier when The Richmonder reported that Youngkin had called the radio host and asked him to end his campaign.

In a video posted on X, Reid alleged that “representatives of my campaign have been told by the leader of Governor Youngkin’s political organization that the attacks on me will continue unless I drop out.”

He didn’t name Moran in the video, but on Monday his campaign sent a cease-and-desist letter directly accusing Moran of defamation and “actual malice.”

The letter claims Moran told news outlets Reid was behind a sexually explicit Tumblr account — a charge Reid’s team denies. “While this account shared a common username with our client’s Instagram, he is not and never has been associated with the account,” the letter stated. It also accuses Moran of telling Reid that “him getting out of the race is the only way it stops.”

Moran, 36, heads the governor’s Spirit of Virginia PAC and serves as Youngkin’s unpaid policy director. His central role in the campaign operation has drawn backlash from Republicans across the state, with some urging Youngkin to cut ties amid the controversy.

“Firing Matt really is the only appropriate thing for Governor Youngkin to do,” Casey Flores, founder of the Richmond chapter of Log Cabin Republicans, a national LGBTQ+ GOP group, told The Mercury on Tuesday.

Even some party stalwarts have raised alarms about how the allegations have been handled.

John Reid imbroglio tests gender, sexuality and privacy standards in Virginia politics

Former Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling said the core question — whether Reid had any real connection to the Tumblr account — “remains unresolved.”

And Rick Buchanan, chair of the 5th District GOP committee, said Youngkin made a mistake by listening to Moran “without knowing the facts.”

Others have raised concerns about Moran’s dual roles. Loudoun County GOP Chair Scott Pio called his arrangement — being on leave from two consulting firms while advising Youngkin — a conflict of interest.

“Since Matt doesn’t have a statewide client, he decides to throw this bomb,” Pio said. “Youngkin being a businessman, he should know when to hire and fire quickly.”

Calls are also growing for internal accountability. In a letter to GOP Chairman Mark Peake, Buchanan and 6th District Chair John Massoud urged the party’s executive committee to privately review any images Moran may have shown the governor. They said the accusations were serious, but “the evidence behind the allegations … have not been forthcoming.”

Wednesday’s previously scheduled GOP “unity” rally was abruptly canceled in the wake of the controversy. Reid has vowed to continue campaigning and appeared at the Henrico event without other party leaders.

The rally instead became a backdrop to Moran’s digital counterattack — one that may escalate the conflict even further, despite his lawyer’s call to “de-escalate.”

Virginia Republican Lieutenant Governor candidate John Reid gives a speech at a rally on April 30, 2025, days after Gov. Glenn Youngkin asked him to drop out of the race. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)

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