Virginia DMV hire scuttled after newspaper's reporting

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A former Indiana official had been set to take a job leading Virginia's Department of Motor Vehicles, but that plan fell apart Tuesday after a newspaper's reporting about allegations that the official had behaved inappropriately at work.

Virginia Transportation Secretary Shep Miller spoke with former Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Peter Lacy on Tuesday morning, according to a spokeswoman for GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

“Mr. Lacy rescinded his acceptance and the Secretary concurred with that decision. He informed Mr. Lacy the Commonwealth rescinded the offer of employment,” Youngkin spokeswoman Macaulay Porter said in a statement to The Associated Press.

The developments came shortly after the IndyStar published a report detailing workplace complaints from people who worked under Lacy, who abruptly resigned his role last month.

The newspaper reported that when it sought comment from Lacy about the complaints, he responded with a statement that did not acknowledge or deny them and said he was proud of his tenure. He could not immediately be reached by AP Tuesday.

Virginia's former DMV commissioner retired before Youngkin — a political newcomer whose hiring and vetting of officials is being closely watched — took office in January. Porter declined to answer follow-up inquiries about the matter.

Linda Ford, the Virginia DMV's deputy commissioner and chief operating officer, has been serving as acting commissioner since Rick Holcomb’s retirement, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.