The Montpelier Foundation has begun firing long-time staff members who questioned the Foundation’s retraction of its promise to share governance of President James Madison’s estate with the Montpelier Descendants Committee, according to a press release from the organization representing descendants of the families whom Madison enslaved.
The Foundation has terminated Elizabeth Chew, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief curator, Matthew Reeves, Ph.D., director of archaeology and landscaping restoration, Christy Moriarty, director of communications, and Alex Walsh, events manager.
The Foundation has also suspended Christopher Pasch, archaeology field director, and Mary Furlong Minkoff, Ph.D., director of archaeology and curator of archaeological collections.
The targeted employees collectively have more than 50 years of service to Montpelier and 100 years of experience in their fields.
“We are in awe of these faithful employees for their principled stand, and pray that their leave from Montpelier is temporary. Any historic site would be lucky to have them. Montpelier, however, will be unable to replace the brain trust it has so thoughtlessly discarded,” said Dr. Bettye Kearse, a leader of the Montpelier Descendant’s Committee and Foundation board member.
As news of the Foundation board’s abandonment of its commitment to the Montpelier Descendants Committee emerged in recent weeks, the majority of Montpelier’s full-time staff issued a statement of support for fulfilling...
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday (April 6, 2026) accused Congress of unleashing a “foreign-influenced misinformation campaign” against him and his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma ahead ...