Equal Opportunity PAC: Alleged violations of Chapter 42.17A RCW for failure to timely, accurately, and completely disclose expenditure details and report independent expenditures or electioneering communications (EY 20; Oct 20)

Case

#79577

Respondent

Equal Opportunity PAC

Complainant

Alex Bond

Description

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has completed its review of the complaint filed on October 20, 2020. The complaint alleged that Equal Opportunity PAC, a political committee supporting and opposing legislative candidates in the 2020 election, may have violated: (1) RCW 42.17A.235 and RCW 42.17A.240 for failure to timely and accurately disclose expenditures for political advertising and debts; (2) RCW 42.17A.240 and WAC 390-16-037 for failure to accurately and completely disclose expenditure details, including the number of items printed; and (3) RCW 42.17A.255, .260, and .305 for failure to timely, accurately, and completely disclose independent expenditures and electioneering communications.

PDC staff reviewed the allegations; the applicable statutes, rules, and reporting requirements; the response provided by 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, although the campaign activity reports filed by the Respondent contained a small number of errors needing correction, Equal Opportunity PAC made a good faith effort to fully disclose the PAC’s activity on both C-4 and C-6 reports in a timely manner and did not intend to keep relevant campaign activity from the public.

Based on our findings staff has determined that, in this instance, failure to include complete descriptions on a small number of expenditures does not amount to a finding of a violation that warrants further investigation.

PDC staff is reminding Equal Opportunity PAC about the importance of the timely and accurate disclosure of all campaign debts and expenditures, specifically including the detailed descriptions required on both C-4 and C-6 report on all future PDC reports in accordance with the statutes and rules.

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 Reminder

Date Opened

November 04, 2020

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.235, RCW 42.17A.240, RCW 42.17A.255, RCW 42.17A.260, RCW 42.17A.305

Documents

• 79577 Equal Opportunity PAC Response.pdf
• 79577 Equal Opportunity PAC Reminder Letter.pdf
• 79577 Equal Opportunity PAC Complaint.pdf