The web of secrecy that has engulfed the state Republican party may have reached to Berkeley County last week.
That’s because what was billed as a Republican unity function called the “Eisenhower Dinner” resulted in an incident involving Republican Second District Congressman Alex Mooney and former Mountain Party gubernatorial candidate Danny Lutz.
According to Lutz and a friend who accompanied him to the event at the Martinsburg Holiday Inn, he was unceremoniously tossed from the early reception “because Congressman Mooney did not want me there.”
The friend, David Tabb of Harper’s Ferry, verified Lutz’s rendition of what happened. Tabb said he and Lutz were standing with a “few people” in a room that was “billed as a meet and greet. We paid $50 each for the privilege.”
Nothing seemed amiss until Mooney entered the room, spotted Lutz and marched directly up to him, according to witnesses.
“The Congressman asked Danny who he was,” Tabb said. “He seemed to.be visibly upset.”
Lutz answered that he is one of the elected Soil Conservation District Committee members for Jefferson County.
That apparently didn’t satisfy.Mooney. “I said who are you?” he demanded in a louder voice, witnesses reported.
That’s when Lutz told Mooney his name and the congressman became even more animated, according to Tabb and Lutz.
“That’s who I thought you were” the friend said Mooney roared. “You aren’t allowed here. My staff has a restraining order for you. I’ll have law enforcement take you out of here.”
With that, according to both Lutz and the witness, Mooney turned and rapidly left the room.
Minutes later, Berkeley County GOP Chair Gary Kelley arrived at Lutz’s side and told him Mooney was demanding that he leave. The chairman confirmed that in a phone conversation with lootpress Sunday afternoon.
Lutz emphasized that he knows of no “restraining order” and voluntarily walked out peacefully after being confronted.
The cost for the dinner, $40, had already been paid by Lutz and his friend. While Tabb stayed for the duration of the meet and greet and dinner, Lutz said no effort was made to refund his $90. Kelley did dispute that, saying he offered to give it back to Lutz “but he just walked out.”
Lutz said he was “shocked by the congressman’s behavior. You’d expect a little better than that from a member of the House of Representatives.
We were standing peacefully in a public setting. What did my presence hurt?”
Kelley said he heard none of the conversation between Mooney and Lutz; did not know the nature of any dispute between Mooney and Lutz; and knew nothing of a “restraining order.”
State Treasurer Riley Moore was the main speaker. He was to be introduced by Mooney but the congressman left immediately after making his own opening remarks.
“He was clearly agitated,” Tabb said of Mooney.
“He didn’t want to.hang around, even after Danny was thrown out.”
Mooney may be locked in a tough re-election campaign with fellow GOP Congressman David McKinley. Their districts were combined in the redistricting for 2022.
The Congressman is also being investigated for ethical violations with his campaign funds.
Lootpress efforts to reach Mooney, his chief of staff, office and campaign staff have been unsuccessful in the past. Messages were left again but none returned by press time.
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Lutz took great pleasure in reminding me that “you and I both” have been tossed out of Republican public events. Readers recall that the state GOP, under the leadership of Chair Mark Harris, has adopted a policy of secrecy.
Having known Lutz for some time, I can’t imagine why Mooney insisted on tossing him.
Contact political columnist and reporter Ron Gregory at 304’533-5185 or ronjgregory@gmail.com.