August 20, 2020/Media, Press

JD Wooten Blasts Galey Campaign and Dark Money Allies for Defamatory Smear Campaign

Galey and Her Dark Money Republican Supporters Are Attacking Veterans Benefits Wooten Earned Through a Decade of Military Service to Save Her Flailing Campaign

Amy Galey and her dark money allies in Raleigh launched a new defamatory attack against JD Wooten as part of a months-long campaign of lies about the veterans benefits Wooten earned through a decade of military service. These lies have been parroted in mailers authorized by the Galey campaign, which falsely claimed that Wooten “committed fraud” and “never moved in” to his own home, and a new TV ad paid for by the dark money group “Citizens for a Better NC Senate,” which falsely claims Wooten used veterans benefits to purchase an “investment property.” Wooten previously sent a cease-and-desist to Amy Galey to stop running defamatory communications. 

“Amy Galey and her dark money Republican allies are resorting to blatantly false character attacks in a desperate attempt to revive her flailing campaign,” said JD Wooten, Democratic candidate for State Senate District 24. “The fact of the matter is that I bought a home using VA benefits afforded to veterans like myself, but I later decided to move to run for office after watching Republicans in Raleigh like Amy Galey refuse to stand up for hard-working families in Alamance and Guilford counties. Her shameful attack on VA benefits is an attack on all service members. She should be focused on bringing our community together, not tearing it apart.” 

Here is the truth about their baseless attacks:

FACT: JD Wooten purchased a home in 2019, immediately moved in as his primary residence, and intended to remain there indefinitely. 

  • When Wooten purchased the home, he immediately moved in, made it his primary residence, and intended to live in the home as a primary residence indefinitely. Additionally, a real estate attorney confirmed to WXII that Wooten complied with all terms of his loan.
  • Carolina Journal: “When Wooten bought the South Lindell Road home in March 2019…  it was Wooten’s primary residence and he intended it to remain so.”


FACT: A Greensboro real estate attorney confirmed that Wooten has complied with the terms of his loan.

  • “JD has complied with the terms of his loan and has not in any way breached the terms of his agreement with his lender. Any suggestion otherwise is not based in fact and is patently false.” [WXII, 7/25/20]


FACT: There is no Department of Veteran’s Affairs rule which states a house must be occupied for a full calendar year. 

  • WXII: “We asked [the VA] if [the home is] purchased as a primary residence, is there a time that they must hold the property before it can be used as a rental property? They responded, the veteran must certify occupancy when purchasing a home. However, there is no required time period for a veteran to occupy the property.” [WXII, 7/25/20]
  • After Wooten moved to run for office, he did not rent the home for well-over a year, further demonstrating he did not intend for this to be an investment property when he purchased it.


FACT: After district lines were approved by the General Assembly, and after encouragement from supporters, Wooten moved to the 24th district to run again.

  • Final district maps were approved by the General Assembly on September 16, 2019 and approved by the court on October 28, 2019. Wooten filed to run on December 2, 2019. [WRAL, 7/16/19; WBTV, 10/28/19; Times-News, 12/3/19]



TIMELINE

  • February 2018: Wooten lives on Cobble Creek Rd, Whitsett, NC. House is in SD-24.
  • February 27, 2018: Wooten files to run for Senate District 24 [News and Record, 2/27/18]
  • April 1, 2018: Wooten began renting at Hargrove Dr. in McLeansville, NC. House is in SD-24.
  • November 6, 2018: Election day.
  • February 1, 2019: Courts file an order directing a July 15 trial start in Wake County court over state legislative districts. [AP, 2/1/19]
  • March 18, 2019: After deciding to move closer to his Greensboro office, Wooten closed on the S. Lindell Rd house and moved in within days. At this time, JD did not intend to run again.
  • March 30, 2019: Wooten’s lease at his previous residence on Hargrove Dr. ends.
  • May 13, 2019: After encouragement from supporters, JD announces he plans to run for state senate. Pending legal challenges leave district lines in flux. [Times-News, 5/13/19]
  • July 26, 2019: Trial over state legislative districts concludes. [AP, 7/26/19]
  • September 3, 2019: Court finds North Carolina’s state legislative districts are unconstitutional and must be redrawn. [News & Observer, 9/3/19]
  • September 16, 2019: Final district maps approved by the General Assembly. [WRAL, 7/16/19]
  • October 16, 2019: Wooten begins leasing and living at Redland Ct. Wooten confirmed with the closing attorney that vacating the S. Lindell Rd house complied with his loan agreement. House is in SD-24.
    • JD chose not to rent the property at a significant financial loss to ensure absolute compliance with the letter and spirit of the law.
  • October 28, 2019: Court approves state legislative district lines [WBTV, 10/28/19]
  • December 2, 2019: Wooten files to run in SD-24. [Times-News, 12/3/19]
  • July 1, 2020: A rental tenant began living at S. Lindell Rd., more than a year after JD closed on the home (March 2019).
  • July 25, 2020: Local real estate attorney confirms to WXII that “JD has complied with the terms of his loan and has not in any way breached the terms of his agreement with his lender. Any suggestion otherwise is not based in fact and is patently false.” [WXII, 7/25/20]