Jaime Herrera Beutler: Alleged violations of RCW 42.17A.235, .240 & .405(14) for not not reporting the actual contributor on reports & for accepting an over-limit contribution (EY24 OCT24)

Case

#161493

Respondent

Jaime Herrera Beutler

Complainant

Dmitri Iglitzin and Marina Multhaup, on behalf of Washingtonians for Ethical Government

Description

  • Allegation:  Violations of RCW 42.17A.235, .240 & .405(14) for not  accurately disclosing contributions on reports & for accepting an over-limit contribution

The PDC has dismissed this matter in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1) and will not be conducting a more formal investigation into these allegations or taking further enforcement action in this matter.  

A complaint was filed by Marina Multhaup and Dmitri Iglitzin, on behalf of Washingtonians for Ethical Government, concerning contributions made by Lawrence Patrick Hughes, Case 161712, to Let's Go Washington Sponsored by Brian Heywood, Case 161496; Dave Reichert, Case 160779; and Jaime Herrera Beutler, Case 161493. 

The complaint alleged, in part, that Jaime Herrera-Beutler may have violated RCW 42.17A.235 and RCW 42.17A.405(14) by failing to accurately report contributors and by accepting contributions which exceed the limits for individuals per election.

Applicable Laws & Rules

RCW 42.17A.235 and .240 require candidates and political committees to file timely, accurate reports of contributions and expenditures including the name and address of each person who has made one or more contributions during the period.

RCW 42.17A.435 states, “No contribution shall be made and no expenditure shall be incurred, directly or indirectly, in a fictitious name, anonymously, or by one person through an agent, relative, or other person in such a manner as to conceal the identity of the source of the contribution or in any other manner so as to effect concealment.”

Relevant facts are as follows:

  • Jaime Herrera-Beutler was a 2024 candidate for Public Lands Commissioner who appeared on the general election ballot.
  • Lawrence Patrick Hughes made contributions in his name and in the name of his spouse, after she had passed away, to the 2024 campaigns of Let’s Go Washington, Dave Reichert, and Jaime Herrera-Beutler.

Jaime Herrera-Beutler, Case 161493 

  • The Herrera-Beutler campaign said they followed PDC rules, which state that contributions must be attributed equally among the names listed on the check. The campaign stated they were unaware that one of the individuals named on the check had passed away, and attributed the contribution according to PDC reporting guidelines. The campaign noted that, upon learning of the individual’s passing, they refunded the portion attributed to the deceased individual on October 30, 2024.
  • Nathan Alexander, an attorney speaking on behalf of Mr. Hughes, stated that Mr. Hughes has been a frequent campaign donor for more than thirty years, and this is the first time he has been accused of making contributions over legal limits or of concealing a contribution’s source. He said Mr. Hughes had no intention of circumventing campaign finance law and that any overpayment was an honest mistake stemming from a simple misunderstanding between Mr. Hughes and his assistant during a time when Mr. Hughes was adjusting to his newfound life as a widower after 65 years of marriage.

Disposition

Case Closed with No Evidence of Violations

Date Opened

October 30, 2024

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.235, RCW 42.17A.240, RCW 42.17A.405

Documents

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