By Aurelio Rojas

arojas@sacbee.com

California’s political watchdog agency is investigating a complaint alleging the Mormon church failed to report non-monetary contributions to the Yes on 8 campaign, a state official said Monday.

The sworn complaint by a group called Californians Against Hate contends the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized phone banks from Utah and Idaho and sent direct mail to voters.

The complaint, filed four days after Californians voted to end gay marriage in the state, also alleges the Utah-based church transported people to California to walk precincts and distributed thousands of lawn signs and other campaign materials.

The church is also accused of establishing Web sites and producing commercials and other video broadcasts geared toward nonmembers.

Roman Porter, executive director of the state Fair Political Practices Commission, said the agency sent a form letter last Friday to Fred Karger, founder of Californians Against Hate, informing him it would investigate the complaint.



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