From the Seattle Times:

The Washington Democratic Party may face thousands of dollars in fines for failing to file timely reports for the 2004 election. In addition to those fines, the party could be required to repay a $100,000 fine that was suspended in 2003 as long as the Democrats didn’t have any serious campaign-finance infractions during the next five years.

In a letter to the state Public Disclosure Commission (PDC), state Democratic Party Chairman Paul Berendt admitted mistakes were made by party staff members. Late last summer, he said, the party transferred $394,000 from a federal account to a state account, but individual donor-contribution data were not disclosed, in violation of state rules.

The commission said that in October, a form was electronically filed by the Democrats for the state account, indicating the deposit of $394,000, but no individual contributors were disclosed in the report. The individual contributors weren’t disclosed until Jan. 24, 104 days late.

The commission will investigate the latest complaint and, if the party is found in violation, the reimposition of the $100,000 fine will be automatic, PDC spokesman Doug Ellis said. He said the violations are so serious they will be referred to the Attorney General’s Office for possible prosecution. The party could face fines of $10,000 for each violation.

In 2003, the Washington State Democrats were slapped with the largest campaign-disclosure fine imposed against a political party in state history after failing to properly disclose about $7 million worth of campaign donations and expenditures during the 2000 election.

No word from Washington Democrat Sen. Patty Murray or Sen. Maria Cantwell, longtime self-avowed advocates of “campaign finance reform,” on the state Democrat party’s habitual disregard for public disclosure.

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