McKeen Affair

The McKeen Affair was a minor scandal which took place in the Tsardom of Begon pertaining to the Principality of Runnymede in February 2022. The scandal was started by its namesake, Terry McKeen and was handled by the Tsar of Begon, Christoph Billung. It was the second time a Censure had been issued by the monarch of Begon, the first since the attempted secession of a Begonic County.

Background

Personal tensions between Terry McKeen, Liam MacKenzie, and Matthew Cunningham had been rising during the time of the scandal. Tensions were political arguments over the nations of Zeprana, Worrell, and Runnymede in all of which they had each held office. The tensions immediately spread to Christoph Billung because of his involvement with that sector of the community, and as a result Christoph had taken a defensive stance due to McKeen's history in attempting to revive the independence of nations which existed under the Dominion of the Begonic Crown.

Censure of McKeen and Cunningham

On February 7, 2022, in Begon@D (a platform for Begonic communication on Discord), McKeen had confessed that "Runnymede might become a part of Zeprana" which Christoph Billung immediately dismissed, until McKeen expressed the involvement of Matthew Cunningham, the Prince of Runnymede. Billung immediately alerted McKeen that he is partaking in treason, and drafted a Royal Edict to censure both Mckeen and Cunningham until an investigation or trial had proven them innocent. The censure accused them both of "Coniuratio Contra Coronam" or Conspiracy against the Crown and stripped them both of any positions or titles they held in Begon.

Press Release and Apology

Following the investigation, Christoph Billung issued a Press Release stating "Mr McKeen had relayed information to me that I had deemed troubling, which followed an immediate censure. Both Mr McKeen and His Serene Highness have been acquitted of any informal accusations issued by myself or the Chief Constable." Mr. McKeen is no longer a Member of Parliament, but Matthew Cunningham remains the Prince of Runnymede.