Democrats defend House incumbents before eyes turn to fall
SARAH RANKIN, Associated Press
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FILE - In this Friday Feb. 28, 2020, file photo, Del. Alfonzo Lopez, D-Arlington, left, waves a white flag as Del. Mark Sickles, D-Fairfax, explains another bill during the House session at the Capitol in Richmond, Va. Democrats who have transformed Virginia at whiplash speed over the past two years will be defending their full control of the statehouse in fall 2021.Steve Helber/AP
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Democrats who have transformed Virginia at whiplash speed over the past two years will be defending their full control of the statehouse this fall. But first, they are trying to get an usually high number of House incumbents past primary challenges.
By Ben Paviour, VPM News
Democratic Del. Steve Heretick (D-Portsmouth) was deposed earlier this month in a lawsuit that alleges he was involved in a scheme to illegally take advantage of thousands of people who received settlements from injuries or workplace accidents.
Heretick denies any wrongdoing. His case has drawn little media attention since a 2018 story in the Virginian-Pilot.
But his deposition sworn, pre-trial testimony is the latest sign a federal court is taking the complaint seriously. It alleges the lawyer played an instrumental role in an industry that many consumer rights advocates say is predatory.
At the same time, Heretick is waging a political battle to keep his seat.