Spring Break
Justin Zatkoff Fired, Steals Campaign Literature
Jane Coaston
Issue date: 9/30/08 Section: News
Justin Zatkoff, chair of the Michigan Federation of College Republicans, has been fired from his position within the Republican National Committee's "Victory '08" Campaign as of October 3rd. Zatkoff was fired after John McCain pulled his campaign out of Michigan, and then attempted to steal 300,000 pieces of campaign literature from Michigan campaign headquarters. In an email sent to supporters, Zatkoff alleged that he intended to "distribute" the literature himself:
"I know that I told you I would get your county's allotment of the 300,000 pieces of the John McCain literature over to your HQ last night and this morning, but a funny thing happened. Sad actually. As you know, that literature has been sitting in Farmington since last week and hasn't gone out to anyone! This literature does us no good sitting in the office collecting dust when it could be out in the hands of our grassroots activists!
In accordance with our arrangements with the County and McCain grassroots leaders, like you, we were going to get it out all over the state as mentioned and had a plan to get it everywhere in the state in 48 hours - most places by this morning (or last night!), and even had direction from Jennifer Hallowell, the Regional Campaign Manager of the McCain Campaign, to do so."
In the email, Zatkoff alleged that he received a phone call from the executive chair of the Michigan GOP, ordering him to stop taking campaign literature or risk criminal charges.
Larry Ward, Political Director of the Michigan GOP, took the lead in denouncing Zatkoff's actions in an email sent Tuesday afternoon: " Today, you may have received an email from a disgruntled former employee, Justin Zatkoff that is an example of game-playing that is distracting from our efforts this fall.
It has been leaked to the press and being circulated by the same old group of troublemakers that are more interested in intra-party political silliness than helping Republicans win general elections...We will prosecute anyone who attempts to take valuable collateral or equipment that belongs to the Republican party or the victory program and inhibits our effort to achieve victory in November."
According to an anonymous source within Victory '08, the campaign materials have been returned.
"I know that I told you I would get your county's allotment of the 300,000 pieces of the John McCain literature over to your HQ last night and this morning, but a funny thing happened. Sad actually. As you know, that literature has been sitting in Farmington since last week and hasn't gone out to anyone! This literature does us no good sitting in the office collecting dust when it could be out in the hands of our grassroots activists!
In accordance with our arrangements with the County and McCain grassroots leaders, like you, we were going to get it out all over the state as mentioned and had a plan to get it everywhere in the state in 48 hours - most places by this morning (or last night!), and even had direction from Jennifer Hallowell, the Regional Campaign Manager of the McCain Campaign, to do so."
In the email, Zatkoff alleged that he received a phone call from the executive chair of the Michigan GOP, ordering him to stop taking campaign literature or risk criminal charges.
Larry Ward, Political Director of the Michigan GOP, took the lead in denouncing Zatkoff's actions in an email sent Tuesday afternoon: " Today, you may have received an email from a disgruntled former employee, Justin Zatkoff that is an example of game-playing that is distracting from our efforts this fall.
It has been leaked to the press and being circulated by the same old group of troublemakers that are more interested in intra-party political silliness than helping Republicans win general elections...We will prosecute anyone who attempts to take valuable collateral or equipment that belongs to the Republican party or the victory program and inhibits our effort to achieve victory in November."
According to an anonymous source within Victory '08, the campaign materials have been returned.
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posted 10/08/08 @ 5:34 PM EST
It's my understanding that he is still the College Republicans chairman for the state of Michigan. I don't believe the Michigan Republican Party has canned him from that position. (Continued…)
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