Political group’s ad draws complaint
A conservative political group funded by casino mogul Sheldon Adelson has been accused of violating federal election law in its campaign against a Democratic congressional candidate in Louisiana.
The complaint filed Wednesday with the Federal Election Commission is the second by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee against Adelson’s Freedom’s Watch, a nonprofit that has tried to position itself as an answer to liberal groups such as MoveOn.org.
The complaint accused Freedom’s Watch of inappropriately running a television ad criticizing tax votes cast by state lawmaker Don Cazayoux, a Democrat seeking election to Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District in a special election May 3.
The complaint also accused the group of failing to disclose donors to the FEC within 24 hours of receiving contributions for political advertising as required by federal law.
“Clearly, Freedom’s Watch knows their ads cross the line or they wouldn’t have had to hide their donors’ names,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chief Brian Wolff said in a statement.
Freedom’s Watch spokesman Ed Patru said the group had not violated election law.
“When we are required to disclose, we disclose,” he said.