The AG release said of Moxie:
“This settlement holds Moxie Media, Lisa MacLean, Henry Underhill and their two political action committees accountable for their campaign finance disclosure violations and preserves the integrity of state law while avoiding the additional expense to taxpayers of taking this case to trial,” said Attorney General Rob McKenna.
The news comes a week after the state Public Disclosure Commission decided to take a closer look at allegations against the Washington chapter of Americans for Prosperity, a hard-right group based in Virginia.
A PDC staff investigation recommended dropping the case on grounds AFP did not violate laws of 2010, but commissioners are not so sure.
Actions by both groups spurred reform legislation earlier this year. Senate Bill 5021 was signed into law in April
to require better disclosure.
Judge Christine Pomeroy signed an order in Thurston County Superior Court today that settles the attorney general’s lawsuit against Moxie.
The original 2010 lawsuit against Moxie detailed allegations that Moxie, its principal Lisa MacLean and other staffers created multiple independent expenditure groups in order to conceal the identity of funds – some of which came from the Washington Federation of State Employees – used to target Democratic Sen. Jean Berkey of Everett and boost her Republican and Democratic rivals in the 2010 primary.
The judgment against Moxie follows other high-dollar, high-profile cases against the Building Industry Association of Washington and also against the Washington Education Association.
UPDATE on original 12:35 p.m. post: Lisa MacLean of Moxie Media released this statement from her attorney, Will Rava. It says the “clients will comply fully with any and all applicable laws and regulations.”
Rava added they agreed with the state in not seeking a new election for Sen. Berkey’s seat.
State Democratic Party chairman Dwight Pelz said Democrats “look forward to Rob McKenna taking just as strong a stance against the Koch Brothers and Americans for Prosperity Washington."
