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WEBVTT WE BEGIN WITH JAYNEWHO BROKE THE STORY YESTERDAY ONTHE WBAL-TV MOBILE APP.JAYNE: WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED ISTHE FBI SAID WE SHOULD NOTEXPECT ANSWERS ANYTIME SOON.THE FIRM DOES WORK IN BOTHNATIONALLY AND THE STATE.THE FBI SAYS DO NOT EXPECT ACLEAR PAPER TRAIL FOR A WHILE.OFFICERS OF THE STRATEGICCAMPAIGN GROUP WERE IN THEIROFFICE YESTERDAY, EVEN AS FBIAGENTS EXECUTED A SEARCHWARRANT.OFFICES IN AN ANNAPOLIS OFFICEBULDING WERE DARK TODAY.THE ELEVATOR IS LOCKED OFF.AND ON THE FIRM'S WEBSITE, LINKSTO THE FIRM'S OFFICERS ARE NOWGONE.SCG AS ITS KNOWN DOESFUNDRAISING AND CONSULTING FORREPUBLICAN CANDIDATES ANDCONSERVATIVE CAUSES AROUND THECOUNTRY.IT ALSO BILLS ITSELF AS APIONEER IN THE USE OF TECHNOLOGYIN POLITICS.A SPOKESPERSON IN THE FBI FIELDOFFICE IN WASHINGTON TOLD ME NOTTO EXPECT ANY DOCUMENTS RELATEDTO THE INVESTIGATION TO BE MADEPUBLIC ANYTIME SOON.ONE OF THE FIRM'S MARYLANDCLIENTS SAID SCG PRESIDENTKELLEY ROGERS, SEEN IN THE PHOTOON THE RIGHT, SET UP SHOP INANNAPOLIS ABOUT THE TIME LARRYHOGAN WAS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.THE CLIENT SAID THE FIRM WASKNOWN TO USE A SUPERPAC TO RAISEMONEY FROM WEALTHY DONORS.THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN MARYLANDSAY THE FBI'S INVESTIGATIONCONCERNS ALLEGATIONS ABOUT THEFIRM'S FUNDRAISING PRACTICES,FIRST RAISED IN A CIVIL LAWSUIT.FROM THE 2013 GOVERNOR'S RACE INVIRGINIA.WE HAVE LEARNED THE COMPANY

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The FBI indicates it will be some time before a clear paper trail emerges in the investigation of a political consulting firm in Annapolis, the 11 News I-Team has learned. Download the WBAL app Agents with a search warrant raided the offices of Strategic Campaign Group on Main Street in Annapolis on Thursday. The two top officers of the firm were in the office Thursday as FBI agents executed a search warrant. Links to the firm's officers have since been removed from the firm's website. The I-Team found the third-floor offices dark on Friday. Visitors can't even get to that floor as of Friday, as the elevator is locked off. SCG, as it's known, does fundraising and consulting for Republican candidates and conservative causes around the country. It also bills itself as a pioneer in the use of technology in politics. A spokesperson at the FBI field office in Washington told the I-Team not to expect any documents related to the case to be made public anytime soon. That's an indication the investigation is in an early stage, with agents now going through the evidence to follow leads. The company and the Republican Party in Maryland said the investigation concerns allegations made in a civil case about fundraising practices. One of the firm's Maryland clients said SCG president Kelley Rogers set up shop in Annapolis. The client said the firm was known to use a super PAC to raise money from wealthy donors. The I-Team has learned that the company president is seeking a criminal defense lawyer who deals with election law. The FBI will not disclose the focus of its investigation. FBI raid in Annapolis puts spotlight on PAC reform legislation The raid is putting a spotlight on political action committees and campaign finance laws. According to state GOP, officials and others, the FBI raid on Strategic Campaign Group may stem from allegations in a lawsuit that has since been settled. Following an unsuccessful run for Virginia governor in 2013, Ken Cuccinelli claimed Strategic Campaign Group and a political action committee duped donors. "They use the money to pay themselves, consultants and other administrative agencies," said Damon Effingham, who is the legal and policy director for Common Cause Maryland, a government watchdog group. The Maryland General Assembly failed to act on legislation exposing scam PACs. The failed bill would have required PACs to disclose the amount of money spent on overhead and consultants. "It would have just given Marylanders easier access to know what's being used with funds in PACs, very much like how nonprofits disclose how much of their money goes to administrative and policy program work," Effingham said. The governor has two opportunities to strengthen Maryland campaign finance laws. Legislation awaiting his signature includes a measure defining coordination between PACs and candidates. Another increases accountability for those running PACs and independent expenditure groups. "As these are allowed to continue and to grow, these organizations, these super PACs, these dark-money organizations, they will have more and more influence unless the General Assembly recognizes the problem and does things to raise up the voices of regular Marylanders to counteract that influence," Effingham said. "If you were going to come in and spend $10,000 or more on an election, you are going to have to start reporting your donors." According to his press office, the governor is unavailable for a comment. He is still considering the campaign finance reform bills on his desk.According to the Governor's press office Strategic Campaign Group "has never done work for the Governor."