Kroger Sues Politically Connected Vets' Charity

John Kroger.
By NIGEL JAQUISS

Attorney General John Kroger filed what promises to be an extremely interesting and controversial lawsuit today against the Oregon War Veterans' Association.

The OWVA, a 501c(19) non-profit has been under investigation since last year as questions about its fund-raising and political activities mounted.

The group has powerful supporters and allies, including Loren Parks, the reclusive medical-supplies tycoon who's long-bankrolled conservative causes, and Kevin Mannix, the Salem lawyer and former lawmaker who's been very active in public safety ballot measures. Last fall, OWVA sued the Oregon Department of Justice to block the release of public records regarding OWVA.

Although many of the questions raised by WW and The Oregonian about OWVA's concerned its unusual political contributions, Kroger's lawsuit raises entirely new allegations of self-dealing against OWVA executive director Greg Warnock.

Here is the statement Kroger's spokesman Tony Green released this morning:

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