MT 43 News Articles View a Published Article

Montana Commissioner of Political Practices Accepts Complaint
Author: MTGOP

Montana Commissioner of Political Practices Accepts Complaint

MTGOP

Montana Commissioner of Political Practices (COPP) Chris Gallus accepted a complaint filed by a Montana resident detailing election law violations by several left-wing dark money groups.

The complaint details how Big Sky Fiscal Guardians, Treasure State Stewards, and Montana Business Advocates for Sensible Elections improperly filed as incidental committees to avoid the full contributor disclosure required of independent committees.

The three entities, as well as Conservatives4MT, share identical financial officers, banking infrastructure, and mailing addresses. All of the groups’ expenditures are for candidate-specific election communications or transfers to political committees; they all lack any identifiable non-electoral purpose.

The COPP accepted the complaint as filed and requested written replies from the respondents. The COPP will then determine whether a formal investigation is warranted.

“This is an organized scheme by Democrat dark money groups to interfere in Republican primary elections. They were caught red-handed, having intentionally formed sham entities to avoid disclosure of donor sources,” Montana Republican Party (MTGOP) Chairman Art Wittich said. “It’s brazen, it’s wrong, and they need to face consequences.”

The MTGOP’s Executive Board previously passed resolutions condemning Republican primary candidates who worked with Fireweed Campaigns and other left-wing political benefactors – like the aforementioned committees – and calling on them to disavow the groups and return any money received from them.