Committee for former President Donald Trump and Republican state lawmaker, Rep. Janel Brandtjen. These charges stem from an apparent scheme to unseat Assembly Speaker Robin Vos during the 2022 Republican primary.
Basis of Allegations:
The commission alleges that Trump’s fundraising committee and Rep. Brandtjen conspired to evade campaign finance laws to support Vos’s primary challenger, Adam Steen.
This effort was purportedly aimed at retaliating against Vos for distancing himself from Trump’s unfounded claims of election scam in the 2020 presidential election.
Steen, endorsed by Trump and Brandtjen, ultimately lost to Vos in the primary by a narrow margin. However, Steen is currently backing a recall effort against Vos.
Violations of Campaign Finance Laws:
The ethics commission alleges that the Trump fundraising committee, Brandtjen, Steen’s campaign, and others collaborated to circumvent state fundraising limits.
They purportedly funneled at least $40,000 into Steen’s bid, exploiting loopholes in campaign finance regulations.
Allegations of Money Laundering:
The commission contends that donations exceeding the $1,000 individual cap were directed to county Republican parties and redirected to Steen’s campaign.
According to the commission, this amounts to money laundering and a deliberate attempt to conceal the true source of the funds.
Responses and Dismissal of Complaint:
Neither Brandtjen, Vos, Steen, nor Trump’s campaign immediately responded to requests for comment.
The commission dismissed a complaint against MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, citing insufficient evidence to recommend prosecution.