The RGA says reports of bribery confirmed by Jack Kimball to the Boston Globe are inaccurate. Chair alleges bribe by national GOP

Embattled New Hampshire GOP chair Jack Kimball confirmed an allegation on Tuesday that the Republican Governors Association offered the state party money in exchange for his stepping down.

“It’s very sad,” Kimball told The Boston Globe in an interview.


The report of the bribe first surfaced on the conservative blog, GraniteGrok, which wrote that the RGA agreed to donate $100,000 to help with state races if Kimball were to resign from his seat. Citing anonymous sources, the blog also said that Reps. Charlie Bass and Frank Guinta and Sen. Kelly Ayotte would chip in additional money to the New Hampshire Republican Party.

Kimball confirmed the story to the newspaper.

“The contents in that piece are accurate,” he said.

But the RGA has denied the charge. “The reports are wrong,” emailed spokesman Mike Schrimpf.

Bass, Guinta and Ayotte could not be reached for comment.

Kimball’s ascension to the chairmanship in January was seen as an important victory for tea party activists. But faced with party turmoil, weak fundraising and defeats in local special elections, calls for Kimball’s resignation have begun to escalate in recent weeks.

The party saw one of its bank accounts depleted to just $1,300, and Kimball fired party executive director Will Wrobleski last week after he refused to step down – upsetting establishment Republicans.

In a separate interview with The Union Leader on Tuesday, the GOP chairman remained defiant.

“My stepping down would be the worst thing that could happen to this party at this juncture,” he said. “It would cause a fissure that I don’t think would heal anytime soon.”

And he defended his party loyalty, saying he’s a “staunch Reagan Republican.” Several weeks ago, Kimball created a scandal when he signed a petition to allow the Libertarian Party on the 2012 ballot — an endorsement that violates state party bylaws. But he explained that he misread the petition and thought it would simply allow a Libertarian candidate on the ballot.

“I’ve been out front promoting unity for this party,” he said. “I still believe I’m the best choice to be a bridge between the new folks who have come to the party, who are the liberty folks, and the longtime Republican activists who have been around for many years.”

A special meeting of the party’s 36-member executive committee has been scheduled for Sept. 1, where leaders are expected to vote on whether to remove Kimball.