Reynolds Hammers Edmondson On Contributions
State Rep. Mike Reynolds said today that Attorney General Drew Edmondson (pictured) should amend his campaign finance reports to provide "full disclosure" on how thousands of dollars in legally questionable contributions were spent.
"Asking politicians to provide clear and accurate information on how they obtain and spend campaign money is neither 'reckless' nor 'irresponsible,' regardless of what Attorney General Edmondson may think," said Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City. "It's just good government. The people of Oklahoma have a right to know if the state's chief law enforcement officer is willing to obey the laws he is supposed to enforce."
Reynolds recently questioned the legality of nearly $2,000 in recorded Edmondson contributions identified during a review of campaign finance reports. Edmondson has since denied that those funds were illegal contributions and has insisted his personal funds were used in those instances, not campaign funds, in spite of apparent contradictions contained in state campaign finance reports.
In Nov. 22 articles in The Oklahoman and the Tulsa World, Edmondson claimed some of the questioned political contributions were actually donations to charitable organizations.
In addition, according to the Tulsa World, Edmondson admits using at least $300 in campaign funds to pay for various events and said he has reimbursed his campaign for those expenses using private funds. Those questionable donations are on top of $2,750 in contributions that Edmondson repaid to his campaign after Reynolds questioned the legality of those donations. State ethics rules prevent candidates from raising money for their own campaigns and then funneling it to other candidates.
Under state law, Reynolds noted, the penalties for illegal direct campaign contributions are more severe than the penalty for"inappropriate reimbursements" doled out to a candidate as repayment for the use of personal funds that are dedicated to the same purpose.
"When the average Oklahoman contributes money to a charity, they just write a check to that charity from personal funds," Reynolds said. "Apparently, the attorney general prefers a much more complicated process that makes charitable contributions appear as campaign contributions in finance reports. That's a little hard to believe. Attorney General Edmondson should spell out exactly who received each of these questionable donations and where the money came from on each occasion. He has previously admitted making 'mistakes' in campaign reports and the public should not be forced to rely on a 'trust me' promise in lieu of actual, legitimate campaign finance reporting."
Reynolds noted that Edmondson has also failed to explain several apparently illegal, previously identified corporate contributions or other apparently illegal contributions made by the campaigns of State Auditor Jeff McMahan and Governor Brad Henry.
"Asking politicians to provide clear and accurate information on how they obtain and spend campaign money is neither 'reckless' nor 'irresponsible,' regardless of what Attorney General Edmondson may think," said Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City. "It's just good government. The people of Oklahoma have a right to know if the state's chief law enforcement officer is willing to obey the laws he is supposed to enforce."
Reynolds recently questioned the legality of nearly $2,000 in recorded Edmondson contributions identified during a review of campaign finance reports. Edmondson has since denied that those funds were illegal contributions and has insisted his personal funds were used in those instances, not campaign funds, in spite of apparent contradictions contained in state campaign finance reports.
In Nov. 22 articles in The Oklahoman and the Tulsa World, Edmondson claimed some of the questioned political contributions were actually donations to charitable organizations.
In addition, according to the Tulsa World, Edmondson admits using at least $300 in campaign funds to pay for various events and said he has reimbursed his campaign for those expenses using private funds. Those questionable donations are on top of $2,750 in contributions that Edmondson repaid to his campaign after Reynolds questioned the legality of those donations. State ethics rules prevent candidates from raising money for their own campaigns and then funneling it to other candidates.
Under state law, Reynolds noted, the penalties for illegal direct campaign contributions are more severe than the penalty for"inappropriate reimbursements" doled out to a candidate as repayment for the use of personal funds that are dedicated to the same purpose.
"When the average Oklahoman contributes money to a charity, they just write a check to that charity from personal funds," Reynolds said. "Apparently, the attorney general prefers a much more complicated process that makes charitable contributions appear as campaign contributions in finance reports. That's a little hard to believe. Attorney General Edmondson should spell out exactly who received each of these questionable donations and where the money came from on each occasion. He has previously admitted making 'mistakes' in campaign reports and the public should not be forced to rely on a 'trust me' promise in lieu of actual, legitimate campaign finance reporting."
Reynolds noted that Edmondson has also failed to explain several apparently illegal, previously identified corporate contributions or other apparently illegal contributions made by the campaigns of State Auditor Jeff McMahan and Governor Brad Henry.
Labels: Drew Edmondson, Mike Reynolds
posted by Mike McCarville @ 2:49 PM
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