The Maryland Democratic Party is asking the state board of elections to investigate possible campaign finance violations by Gov. Larry Hogan. The Democrats say the Republican took donations from 100 benefactors that were over the legal limit.The Democrats' executive director Ben Smith said Hogan's 2018 campaign raked in more than $200,000 in violation of the legal limit of $6,000 per donor. The Washington Post reports Maryland Sen. Clarence Lam noticed the possible violations after Hogan vetoed a bill to strengthen transparency in the governor's appointments office.Lam told the Democratic Party, which then found the other possible violations.Hogan's attorney, Chris Ashby, denies the accusations, saying in a statement, in part, "Transparency and ethics were important values of the Hogan for Governor campaign, and we remain committed to them even after the election. Our campaign always has been and will remain committed to operating within the limits established by Maryland law, to making full and timely campaign finance disclosures as the law requires, and to correcting any bookkeeping errors promptly as we have done in the past. We look forward to the swift dismissal of this sloppy complaint."Ashby said the 96 individual donors cited in the complaint represent less than one-half of one percent of the 21,656 individual donors to Larry Hogan for Governor in the 2018 cycle. He listed five donors that had been disclosed to the public in 2018.The Associated Press contributed to this story.​

The Maryland Democratic Party is asking the state board of elections to investigate possible campaign finance violations by Gov. Larry Hogan. The Democrats say the Republican took donations from 100 benefactors that were over the legal limit.

The Democrats' executive director Ben Smith said Hogan's 2018 campaign raked in more than $200,000 in violation of the legal limit of $6,000 per donor.


The Washington Post reports Maryland Sen. Clarence Lam noticed the possible violations after Hogan vetoed a bill to strengthen transparency in the governor's appointments office.

Lam told the Democratic Party, which then found the other possible violations.

Hogan's attorney, Chris Ashby, denies the accusations, saying in a statement, in part, "Transparency and ethics were important values of the Hogan for Governor campaign, and we remain committed to them even after the election. Our campaign always has been and will remain committed to operating within the limits established by Maryland law, to making full and timely campaign finance disclosures as the law requires, and to correcting any bookkeeping errors promptly as we have done in the past. We look forward to the swift dismissal of this sloppy complaint."

Ashby said the 96 individual donors cited in the complaint represent less than one-half of one percent of the 21,656 individual donors to Larry Hogan for Governor in the 2018 cycle. He listed five donors that had been disclosed to the public in 2018.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.