State’s top lawyer files three new court actions

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced the filing of campaign finance complaints against Tim Eyman, three political committees, and their officers and treasurer. The AG alleges that shoddy accounting practices and improper disclosure of the source of funds for the committees and their ads violated Washington law.

Three separate cases were filed late Friday in Thurston County Superior Court against the political committees, their principals — Eyman, Jack Fagan and Mike Fagan — as well as their treasurer, Barbara Smith.

“Washington’s campaign finance laws require, and Washingtonians deserve fair, accurate and timely disclosure,” Ferguson said. “When political committees create confusion rather than transparency, I will hold them and the people in charge accountable.”

One complaint alleges that the “Tougher to Raise Taxes” committee improperly repaid loans totaling over $1 million it received from Eyman and three individuals, because it lacked any kind of written loan agreement and failed to report in-kind contributions it received from other committees in the form of interest payments.

The second complaint alleges that committee “Bring Back Our $30 Car Tabs” violated state disclosure laws by failing to file an independent expenditure report disclosing its spending on campaign ads against candidates who had opposed a separate Eyman-backed initiative. The complaint also alleges that the committee failed to accurately disclose $3,297.75 in interest payments it made on a loan for “Tougher to Raise Taxes.”

A third complaint alleges the “2/3rds-for-Taxes Constitutional Amendment” committee failed to accurately disclose a $599.66 interest payment it made on a loan for “Tougher to Raise Taxes.”

The complaint also alleges that the committee failed to account properly for all contributions it received.

Senior Assistant Attorney General Linda Dalton and Assistant Attorney General Chad Standifer are handling the cases for the state.

Since becoming Attorney General, Attorney General Ferguson has devoted more agency resources and a full-time attorney position to campaign finance casework.

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The Office of the Attorney General is the chief legal office for the state of Washington with attorneys and staff in 27 divisions across the state providing legal services to roughly 200 state agencies, boards and commissions. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

Contact:

Peter Lavallee, Communications Director, (360) 586-0725; PeterL@atg.wa.gov