FOX FIRST: A nonpartisan ethics watchdog has officially filed a complaint against a Democratic candidate for reelection in the House, requesting that the Federal Election Commission (FEC) look into possible “illegal” payments from a contentious chain of marijuana shops.
The complaint was filed on Monday by the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT). It claims that the joint fundraising committee and the campaign of Representative Andrea Salinas, D-Ore., for the year 2022 each accepted a donation from La Mota, the second-largest cannabis dispensary in Oregon, which “appears to be an illegal prohibited contribution” or a “inadequately disclosed contribution.”
A source familiar with the transactions, however, is disputing the accusation, claiming to Fox News Digital that there was only one donation and that it was “improperly reported” because of a “data entry error.”
The complaint states that in August 2022, just before the general election in November, Salinas’ joint fundraising organization, Salinas Victory Fund, and her campaign committee, Andrea Salinas for Oregon, both reported receiving $1,000 contributions from La Mota. Furthermore, as mandated by federal law, neither mentioned the member of the Limited Liability Company (LLC) in charge of the donation.
The campaign of Blake Masters revealed misleading fundraising figures and was unable to reveal which candidate had borrowed $1 million.
The $1,000 contribution was actually made once, not twice, according to the source with knowledge of the transactions, who told Fox News Digital. It was made to the Salinas Victory Fund, which then transferred it to the campaign that same day. This is how campaign funds are usually donated to joint-fundraising committees.
Regarding the contributor’s identity, the complaint stated that an LLC may be regarded as a partnership that is permitted to make contributions as long as they are attributed to “partners” and fall under the federal individual contribution cap, or as a corporation that is prohibited from making contributions.
