OLYMPIA, Wash. (Legal Newsline) — Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced March 31 that his office has filed a campaign finance lawsuit against Tim Eyman for allegations of improperly using $308,000 in contributions made to political committees, concealing contributions totaling $490,185 and conducting misleading campaign finance reporting.
According to Ferguson, Eyman created an elaborate web of financial transactions that hid campaign funds, a scheme that allowed him to enrich himself unbeknownst to the public and his own contributors. Ferguson alleges consumers thought they were donating to one initiative, but actually were donating to Eyman’s personal expenses.
“Taking kickbacks from contractors, using campaign funds for personal expenses, redirecting donations made for one initiative to a different initiative. It’s hard to imagine what more Eyman could have done to show his contempt for our campaign finance disclosure laws,” Ferguson said.
If Ferguson’s case is successful, Eyman and his for-profit company, Tim Eyman Watchdog for taxpayers, could be levied with $1.8 million in penalties and $308,000 in reimbursement.
Handling the case for Washington were senior assistant attorney general Linda Dalton and assistant attorneys general Walter Smith and Jeff Sprung.