Republican gubernatorial nominee Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears is facing more potential legal scrutiny after failing to disclose multiple trips paid for by outside organizations on her required financial disclosure forms. She is already facing one lawsuit as a result, and now a separate group is filing more FOIAs for information.
Earle-Sears amended her Statement of Economic Interests (SOEI) in May to reflect participation in seven trips funded by third-party groups, despite initially certifying in February that she had taken none. Democratic activist Josh Stanfield first reported the discrepancy on May 16, highlighting a 2024 trip to Israel that Earle-Sears promoted on social media but did not list in her original filing. He filed a lawsuit in June, asking a judge to rule on whether Earle-Sears broke the law by failing to disclose the trips and not responding to a FOIA request.
On her original SOEI filing in February of 2025, Earle-Sears said she did not receive “any lodging, transportation, money, or other thing of value with a combined value exceeding $100 during the prior calendar year.”
She signed the form, swearing the information was “full, true, and correct to the best of my knowledge.”
Stanfield published his original story on May 16, revealing that Earle-Sears had not disclosed the trip to Israel. He also stated that he had sent a FOIA to her office, requesting information about the trip on May 15.
On May 22, Earle-Sears filed an amended SOEI form that now includes seven trips paid for by outside groups.
The amended filing raises questions about whether Earle-Sears violated state disclosure laws, which require public officials to report gifts, travel, and other benefits received in connection with their official duties.
Under Virginia law, enforcement of SOEI violations falls to the attorney general. But that position is complicated in this case: Attorney General Jason Miyares is Earle-Sears’ running mate in November.
Stanfield was notified in June that Miyares’ office is defending Earle-Sears in his lawsuit.
Stanfield also included an accusation in his lawsuit that Earle-Sears broke FOIA law by failing to give him documents he requested within the legally required time frame.
He requested specific information about the expenses she reported in her updated form, but did not hear back from Earle-Sears within the required timeframe. Stanfield said that her office eventually quoted him hundreds of dollars to fill the request, but he believes that due to her failing to initially follow the law and respond to him during the legally required time, he should not have to pay it.
Democracy Defenders Action is requesting the same information that Stanfield is seeking.
“The Lieutenant Governor must provide documents to help explain why she failed to disclose over $15,000 in trips on her Statement of Economic Interests,” said Norm Eisen, executive chair and founder of Democracy Defenders Action.
Democracy Defenders Action is seeking receipts relating to the June 8–14, 2024 trip to Israel attended by Earle-Sears and sponsored by the Combat Antisemitism Movement; all correspondence relating to the trip; including texts, emails, letters, and reports; and communications concerning the trip between Earle-Sears, her staff, and fellow attendees state Sen. Bryce Reeves (R) and Del. A.C. Cordoza (R), both of whom reported the same Israel trip at a value of $10,000—which is higher than the $6,000 figure reported by Earle-Sears.
“It is a felony to falsify or omit material facts on a financial disclosure,” said Katie Phang, Senior Advisor and Counsel for Democracy Defenders Action. “The public has a right to know whether Virginia’s second-highest elected official knowingly violated the law. These information requests will hopefully get Virginians the answers they deserve.”
The matter is still ongoing for Stanfield. He told Virginia Scope Monday that he is filing a motion this week to ask the judge to remove Miyares’ office from the case due to conflict.
Earlier this month, Stanfield sent a FOIA to the attorney general’s office asking for documents about any investigation into the matter. They responded by saying they found no records.
“If they have ‘no records’ concerning any investigation,” Stanfield wrote earlier this month, “it stands to reason that no such investigation has occurred and no determination has been made.”
Earle-Sears’ campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Miyares office declined to comment for this story.