Before the Ethics Commission (2025-01-29): Request for Penalty Waiver – Hon. Joseph Rafferty, Jr.
Sen. Joseph Rafferty, Jr., a candidate for the Maine Senate, was required to file a 24-Hour Report on October 30, 2024. His treasurer filed the report on December 11, 2024. Sen. Rafferty requests a waiver of a preliminary penalty of $5,000. In the waiver request, Sen. Rafferty stated because he agreed to the services during the 42-Day Pre-General reporting period, a 24-Hour Report was not required. Staff recommendation: the Commission staff recommends reducing the penalty to $300. The motion: “To find the report was filed late and reduce the penalty to $300” Vote: 5-0.
What to check
- The Commission's decision, in the motion and the minutes
The Commission's meeting of 2025-01-29The staff memo
Rule: Late-filing penalty before the Ethics Commission
“A campaign finance report is not timely filed unless a properly signed or electronically submitted copy of the report, substantially conforming to the disclosure requirements of this subchapter, is received by the commission by 11:59 p.m. on the date it is due.”21-A MRSA §1020-A(2) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how this rule works