Op-Ed: In Virginia, a conflict of interest that never was

Given this year’s high-profile gubernatorial campaign in Virginia, it is not surprising that some partisans, pundits and reporters have distorted the facts of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s role in defending the commonwealth against the Star Scientific tax lawsuit in an effort to create a controversy where none should exist.

A few weeks ago, the Office of Attorney General announced the appointment of outside counsel to the Star Scientific tax case. Former Democratic Attorney General Stephen D. Rosenthal and former Republican Solicitor General William H. Hurd, both of the Troutman Sanders international law firm, have offered to handle the case for the Virginia Department of Taxation at no cost to taxpayers.