Moran's son faces criminal probe

The son of Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) faces a criminal investigation after a conservative group released a video of him appearing to offer advice on how to cast fraudulent ballots.

Patrick Moran, who had served as field director for his father’s reelection bid, resigned from the campaign hours after the video from activist James O’Keefe surfaced on the Internet earlier Wednesday.

But officials at the Arlington County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office and the Arlington County Police Department had been alerted to the video, which showed Patrick Moran talking about how to fake documents in order to cast ballots on behalf of 100 voters in Virginia.

“The Arlington County Police Department has initiated a criminal investigation of this matter,” Arlington officials said in a statement Thursday.

The younger Moran told POLITICO in an e-mail Wednesday that he doesn't endorse “any sort of illegal or unethical behavior” and he never took the man – who turned out to be an undercover videographer – seriously.

"In hindsight, I should have immediately walked away, making it clear that there is no place in the electoral process for even the suggestion of illegal behavior, joking or not,” Patrick Moran said.

Moran’s campaign said in a statement Thursday evening that it “welcomes a thorough investigation and we will fully cooperate.”

“The incident involving Patrick was an unfortunate situation,” the statement read. “While clearly lacking good judgment, Patrick's unsolicited interaction with a right wing political operative seeking to trap him in a damaging conversation did not constitute an unlawful action. We are confident this unwelcome chapter in the campaign will be quickly and favorably closed."

Moran himself added in a separate statement that his son had been trying to “deflect” the questions from the undercover videographer, whom the elder Moran called a “trained political operative bent on goading him into a specific response.” The lawmaker said he did not condone the actions of Project Veritas, O’Keefe’s group.

“But the fact remains that the conversation drifted into discussions that reflected a serious error in judgment that Patrick wishes he could take back,” Moran said. “In life, if we learn from our mistakes, we move forward stronger, wiser, and committed to ensuring they are not repeated. I know Patrick will come out of this tough situation a better man for it.”