Republican Wayne Williams is returning a $550 donation because the donor’s registration with the state is in question. (Photo by John Leyba/The Denver Post)_
We that outside groups were going to get heavily involved in Colorado’s secretary of state’s race this year. at the Colorado Springs Gazette reported Monday that one outside push
She found the Republican State Leadership Committee that gave GOP nominee Wayne Williams $550 was registered as a so-called 527 group, which can raise unlimited money from secret donors, but it can’t donate directly to a candidate. The group could have registered as a political action committee. With that status it could donate to candidates, but it would be limited in the amount of money it receives from its donors, as well as facing financial reporting requirements it wouldn’t enjoy as a 527.
When Schrader pointed out the issue to Williams, he checked it himself and returned the money on Tuesday. He told the Gazette his campaign explained the rules to donors in advance and thought “everything was fine when we accepted it.”
I’ve never been called “friendly,” , for reporting on an illegal campaign contribution that got returned
— Megan Schrader (@CapitolSchrader)
Elisabeth Mabus, the campaign manager for Williams’ opponent, Joe Negus, accused Williams of returning the money only because of Schrader’s reporting.
“We need a secretary of state that understands campaign finance laws,” she said in a statement Tuesday. “Wayne Williams’campaign was perfectly happy to keep this donation until the media pointed out the issues with it, and only then did he agree to return an improper campaign donation from this shady out of state Republican organization.”
