Hunt Sam (3): Alleged Violation of RCW 42.17A.235 for failure to timely and accurately report contributions, expenditures, and debt. (DEC 2017)

Case

#28817

Respondent

Sam Hunt

Complainant

Glen Morgan

Description

The complaint alleged that Sam Hunt, an incumbent State Senator representing the 22nd Legislative District and a candidate for re-election to that office in 2016 may have violated RCW 42.17A.235 and .240 by failing to timely file Monetary Contributions reports (C-3 reports), and Summary Full Campaign Contribution and Expenditure reports (C-4 reports) disclosing contribution and expenditure activities, including the reporting of debts and obligations undertaken by the Campaign.

Specifically, the complaint alleged the Campaign failed to disclose debts and obligations related to the $1,367.50 suspended portion of the monetary penalty agreed to in the settlement agreement with the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), and the penalties and legal costs related to the Citizens Action Notice’s filed with the AGO.

Staff determined that the suspended portion of a penalty that is contingent on the finding of a future violation is not reportable on the PDC reports as debt, and the penalties and legal fees that were incurred by the Campaign after the November 8, 2016 general election had been held, and those activities did not support Senator Hunt’s candidacy.

Based on this information, in this instance the facts do not amount to a finding of an actual violation warranting further investigation, and the PDC has dismissed the complaint in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1).

Disposition

Case Closed with No Evidence of Violations

Date Opened

January 02, 2018

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.235