Christopher Walsh
04/27/23
(East Hampton Star) End Citizens United, a group of Democratic operatives working to combat the influence of money in politics, has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission alleging that Representative Nick LaLota of New York’s First Congressional District violated federal election law. In the April 11 complaint, Tiffany Muller, the group’s president, charged that Mr. LaLota, his 2022 campaign for Congress, his campaign treasurer, and his 2020 State Senate campaign violated the 1971 Federal Election Campaign Act and F.E.C. regulations by making a direct contribution from his state committee to his federal committee and “appears to have used his State Committee to pay the expenses of his federal campaign.” … End Citizens United states that Mr. LaLota transferred $1,000 “from the State Committee to the Federal Committee” on Feb. 23, 2022, two days after filing a statement of candidacy for Congress. His state campaign remains an active committee with the State Board of Elections, according to the complaint, though he was not a candidate for state or local office while a candidate for federal office… End Citizens United is asking the F.E.C. to investigate, assess the maximum fine permitted by law, and “require the Federal Committee to disgorge the unlawful funds it received from the State Committee.” … End Citizens United made an identical complaint to the F.E.C. about Representative Anthony D’Esposito of New York’s Fourth Congressional District. Both Mr. LaLota and Mr. D’Esposito are freshman Republicans in the House of Representatives, the latter having flipped his seat from Democratic control when he was elected in 2022.