Billy Long For Congress Sets Up Shop North of Bill Long Auctions in Same Building

For months, the Billy Long campaign for Congress used the Billy Long Auctions offices to conduct campaign business. The problem was they never reported the use of the offices as a corporate in-kind donation for most of last year. Facing an FEC ethic violation against the Tillman Act, the Long campaign began to produce more detailed notes the use of Billy Long Auctions offices in their reports in the last quarter of 2009. It still doesn't take away from the fact, the Long campaign used the Long Auction resources without listing them as a contribution--which is against federal election law.

So it's interesting, the Long campaign, who is now being investigated for possible campaign finances appears to have moved their operations a few doors down to the north in the same strip mall Billy Long Auctions sits in. It this simply convenience for Billy Long, or is this CONVENIENCE for Billy Long in a sense a similar address that possibly varies by an office number or letter may give the Long campaign some wiggle room to get out of trouble?

On Friday, I noticed the office space littered with multiple Billy Long for Congress signs on the window. While there was nothing else suggesting it was Long's new campaign headquarters, it definitely had the appearance of a campaign headquarters.

Curtis Trent, Billy's faithful campaign assistant, parked his small Ford pickup truck further to the north of the parking lot, parallel with the offices with the Billy Long for Congress signs. It definitely appears that Long set up a campaign office, but why there?

After all, that building is hidden by Red Lobster, a failed taco joint, a run-down car wash that's no longer in service, and an auto glass store. Long never likes to do anything without the possibility of it being big and noticed. Why wouldn't he choose a place with more traffic driving by so they could see his signs on the building and be more likely to drop in for a bumper sticker? My bet is, they are covering their tracks for the Federal Election Commission. Still the paper trail may come back to bite him, but from multiple sources who wish to remain anonymous and one who has agreed to go on the record to discuss the unethical manner Billy Long conducts his auction business, Billy's money may buy him the proof he needs to get the FEC off his back.