Judge fines conservative group, orders disclosure of its donors
Source: Las Vegas Sun
A Carson City judge has found a Las Vegas-based conservative organization violated campaign finance law when it sent mailers attacking former Assembly Speaker John Oceguera, D-Las Vegas, without disclosing the expense or reporting who contributed money to fund the attack.
Judge James Russell signed an order fining Citizen Outreach $10,000 and ordered the group to file the necessary campaign contribution and expense report within 30 days. Citizen Outreach is headed by longtime conservative activist Chuck Muth, who writes a daily newsletter and has been active in many state campaigns.
... Although Oceguera is no longer in office, the decision could have far-reaching implications for campaign attacks waged in state elections. Muth had argued he didn't have to file campaign contribution and expense reports because his mailers didn't use so-called "magic words" such as "elect," "vote for," or "defeat." Under federal law, such words imply express advocacy, which triggers certain reporting requirements.
... A loophole in federal law allows such campaign mailers to evade some reporting requirements. Muth attempted to use the same defense, describing his mailers as "educational," rather than campaign-oriented. But Secretary of State Ross Miller has argued no such loophole exists under state law.
Read more: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/jul/30/judge-fines-conservative-group-orders-disclosure-i/
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