"Documents Taken from Meth House Implicate Tea Party Dark Money Group in MT, CO"

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26. State of Montana slaps conservative 'dark money' groups for campaign violations

State of Montana slaps conservative 'dark money' groups for campaign violations

HELENA – In far-reaching decisions Wednesday, Montana’s top political cop said
a prominent “dark money” group and similar groups appear to have broken state
campaign laws when they coordinated mailers promoting or attacking candidates
in a 2010 legislative primary election.

The rulings from Commissioner of Political Practices Jonathan Motl also said evidence
shows former state Rep. Dan Kennedy, a Laurel Republican, accepted illegal contributions
from the same groups and failed to properly report those donations.

Motl said the rulings send a message to Montana candidates and groups that would flout
state disclosure laws, warning they must fully report spending and donations for
campaign-related activity.

He advised candidates to “avoid such activity” in the 2014 campaign.

http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/state-of-montana-slaps-conservative-dark-money-groups-for-campaign/article_0fd880f6-367b-11e3-aaf9-001a4bcf887a.html

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Commissioner: Evidence of illegal 'dark money'


Montana's commissioner of political practice said Wednesday that he found evidence
of so-called dark money groups illegally coordinating spending with at least one candidate.

Jonathan Motl warned potential 2014 candidates to not accept aid from third-party
groups without paying for and disclosing the help. Penalties, under state law, could
include fines _ and even removal from office or future ballots. The cases shed more
light on angry disputes over anonymous spending in Montana races that has fractured
the Republican legislative caucus, led to a number of legal battles over state laws and
attracted the attention of a federal grand jury.

Motl released five decisions siding with a former Republican House candidate in Billings,
Debra Bonogofsky. She alleged former state Rep. Dan Kennedy, also a Republican,
coordinated mailers in 2010 to avoid campaign finance laws.

The commissioner said the investigation will now expand to other 2010 and 2012
legislative candidates, because one Bonogofsky complaint widely sought relief on
behalf of all other candidates who were unfairly targeted by unreported spending.


http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/commissioner-evidence-of-illegal-dark-money/article_fc456148-5d2b-5a68-8afc-325fb90359a0.html