GOP Fundraising Firm Raided By Feds Removes Parts Of Website, Protects Tweets

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The FBI quietly raided a Republican consulting and fundraising firm that works with Republican candidates in Annapolis Thursday.

Agents turned off elevator access to the third floor of 191 Main Street, where Strategic Campaign Group is housed, and used trash bags to cover the office windows while they gather evidence.

It's still unclear why FBI agents spent hours inside the office, but WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren reports the firm has since removed parts of its website and protected its tweets.

WJZ spoke with a client who said the company's CEO told him the raid stemmed from a 2013 campaign for a politician in Virginia, Ken Cuccinelli, who ran for governor but lost. The company's work led to a lawsuit after Cuccinelli lost to Terry McAuliffe.

The president of the firm also told the Baltimore Sun that the federal investigation ties back to the 2013 Virginia gubernatorial campaign.

All the feds will say is that this is an active and ongoing investigation.

The firm has a good reputation among Maryland Republicans, but a raid from the FBI was enough for some to start pulling away.

Republican Delegate Nic Kipke says he was shocked. He went on to say until the investigation is concluded and they're cleared, he won't be using their services.

Chairman of the State GOP party, Dirk Haire, says "we don't believe anyone currently has an engagement with that firm, so we are simply suggesting that no one should engage them for any activities at the present time until the investigation is resolved."

Maryland's Republican Party also confirms its looking into the raid.

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