Youngkin advisor hits back at Republican LG nominee over extortion claims

“I never attacked John and did not threaten to coerce him,” said Matthew Moran.

An advisor to Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin is hitting back at the GOP’s nominee for lieutenant governor, John Reid, in the escalating dispute over whether a series of lewd online posts are actually tied to Reid. 

Matthew Moran, the executive director of Youngkin’s Spirit of Virginia PAC, published a sworn affidavit on X Wednesday detailing his version of the events of last week that have divided Virginia Republicans in the run up to this fall’s statewide elections. 

Moran, who reportedly was the one to show Youngkin the posts, denied defaming Reid, as Reid has claimed, and said Reid’s campaign knew about the controversial posts at the heart of the matter before Younkgin asked him to withdraw from the race. 

The public saga began when Youngkin reportedly called Reid to ask him to step down as the lieutenant governor nominee after Youngkin became aware of “disturbing online content.” 

In two videos posted to social media, Reid has strenuously denied having anything to do with the Tumblr account behind the posts, insisting he will remain on the ticket. He’s also accused Youngkin’s PAC of extortion. Reid, who is openly gay, has said he is under more scrutiny as a candidate because of his sexuality. He also had his lawyers send a cease-and-desist notice to Moran over the claims.

John Reid sent Matt Moran, who runs Spirit of Virginia — which is Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s PAC — a cease and desist today. pic.twitter.com/yXEa9vZdXX

— Brandon Jarvis (@Jaaavis) April 29, 2025

“I never attacked John and did not threaten to coerce him,” Moran said in a statement released Wednesday.

I’ve known John Reid for years and consider him a friend. Over the last nine days, I was actively supporting and assisting John as the Lt. Governor nominee of the Republican Party. Let me be clear, facts matter, and they will demonstrate the accusations against me are unfounded. pic.twitter.com/5UPGavZ2k9

— Matthew Moran (@mmoran0226) April 30, 2025

In the affidavit, Moran claimed he has supported Reid’s campaign and considers him a friend. Moran says he became aware of the Tumblr account at the heart of the controversy on April 25 and realized it “would put John in a negative light and impact the viability of his candidacy regardless of its veracity.” According to Moran, Reid’s campaign manager acknowledged knowing about the Tumblr account.  

The Tumblr account reportedly shares a similar handle to other social media accounts Reid uses and posted pornographic material that Reid does not appear in. The account was reportedly created in 2014 and then deleted last Friday after The Richmonder broke the news about Youngkin’s call to Reid. 

The Republican nominee for governor, current Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears seemed to accept that Reid was not leaving the ticket, posting on X that, “it is his race and his decision alone to move forward.” But she added, “we all have our own race to run,” and has yet to campaign with him since the controversy ensued. 

President Lincoln said “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” Those biblical words of Matthew 12:25 embody the positive mission of our campaign to unite and inspire Virginians of all backgrounds.

This week, focus on the Lt. Governor nominee distracted from that mission…

— Winsome Earle-Sears (@winwithwinsome) April 30, 2025

As for Youngkin, he told reporters on Tuesday that the decision over whether to stay on as the Republican nominee was “up to John.”