Both Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, and Rick Perry, the current governor of Texas, may have used their state’s resources to promote their political interests in running for president, according to news reports.
As he was leaving office in 2007, Romney’s administration spent $100,000 in state funds to replace computers in the governor’s office, according to a report by Reuters . By replacing computers and deleting data, Romney prevented reporters and political opponents from scrutinizing how Romney made key decisions during his time as governor.
When he left, the Republican was gearing up for a presidential run, and his Democratic successor, Deval Patrick, was a longtime ally of Barack Obama, then a U.S. senator. Reuters , citing Massachusetts officials, says the move “was legal but unusual for a departing governor.”
The Boston Globe previously reported that Romney’s top staff members paid to take home their hard drives, and his office purged emails and other documents from state servers.
Meanwhile, Perry’s use of state phones to prepare for his presidential candidacy came under close examination from The Associated Press . Citing Perry’s official phone records, the AP reported that the governor was in close contact with allies who would prove valuable in his bid for the Republican nomination, including the founder of an independent group that is prohibited from coordinating directly with the Perry presidential campaign.
“Those whom Perry called have raised millions for his state campaigns, and he appointed some of them to Texas state jobs,” the AP reported. “Some were quick to return the favor by donating to his White House campaign.”
Texas law prohibits the use of state phones to promote a political campaign. A Perry spokeswoman told the AP that Perry used his state phone only for official uses.
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