509 Forward: Alleged violation of RCW 42.17.320 by failing to include a contributor in the Top Five sponsor identification for an independent expenditure advertisement. (EY '21; Oct '21)

Case

#100026

Respondent

509 Forward

Complainant

Steven Freeman, and Benjamin Willard

Description

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has completed its review of the complaint Steve Freeman filed on October 21, 2021 and the complaint filed by Benjamin K. Willard on October 26, 2021. Staff reviewed the complaint filed by Mr. Willard and, finding the allegations similar and related to the same political advertisement already being investigated under the original complaint filed by Steve Freeman, merged the two complaints and notified Mr. Willard of this action on October 29, 2021. The complaints alleged that 509 Forward, a continuing political committee registered with the PDC during calendar year 2021 may have violated RCW 42.17.320 by failing to include a contributor (e.g. Lisa Brown) that contributed more than $1,000 in the Top Five contributor sponsor identification requirements for an independent expenditure advertisement.

PDC staff reviewed the allegations; the applicable statutes, rules, and reporting requirements; the response provided by Melanie Klitzke on behalf of the Respondent; the applicable PDC reports filed by the Respondent; and queried the Respondent’s data in the PDC contribution and expenditure database, to determine whether the record supports a finding of one or more violations.

It appears that the Committee was aware of the “Top Five Contributors” requirement for independent expenditures and electioneering communications and included an accurate disclaimer at the time the postcard was submitted to a third-party vendor for publication which was prior to date the Lisa Brown for Congress contribution was received.

Based on this information, the PDC finds that no further action is warranted and has dismissed this matter in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1).

Disposition

Case Closed with No Evidence of Violations

Date Opened

October 25, 2021

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.320