U.S. Department of Justice Will Not Prosecute Senator Phillip Puckett

December 12, 2014, Abingdon, Va. – Today the United States Attorney’s Office agreed to not prosecute Senator Phillip Puckett following their investigation into events surrounding his resignation in June of 2014.

A letter released by Timothy J. Heaphy, United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, states “After reviewing facts gathered during the investigation, considering potentially applicable statutes, and consulting with the Public Integrity Section at the Department of Justice, we have decided not to pursue federal criminal charges for acts surrounding Senator Puckett’s resignation. We are accordingly closing our investigation of this matter.”

According to Thomas J. Bondurant, Jr. of Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore, LLP, the lead defense attorney for Senator Puckett, “It’s a shame that Senator Puckett had to go through months of what amounted to torture during this investigation, when it was clear to us from day one, based upon the facts and the law, that no crime was committed. We’re pleased with this result.”