Matos Campaign Asks Rhode Island Elections Board to Investigate Loughlin's Finance Reports
On November 1, it was disclosed in Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, that the campaign of gubernatorial candidate Sabina Matos filed a complaint on Thursday with the Rhode Island Board of Elections against the campaign of her opponent John Loughlin, asking the board to investigate whether his campaign finance reports and advertising spending complied with the state's public matching funds rules. The complaint alleges that Loughlin's campaign manager, Chris Mueller, improperly reported campaign activity and benefited from taxpayer-funded campaign money. The allegations remain unproven, and Loughlin has denied them.
Figures disclosed in the complaint show that the spending report Loughlin initially filed by the October 27 deadline listed $659 in expenses; two amended versions filed the next morning each listed $3,641; and a third amended filing, for the reporting period ending October 26, listed $58,651 in expenditures, including television and radio advertising. The Board of Elections has imposed a $25 late fee on him but has not confirmed whether it has opened an investigation.
A board spokesperson said campaign finance investigations remain confidential until officials believe a violation has occurred, and that the person under investigation may waive that confidentiality. The board will next decide whether to accept the complaint and whether the discrepancies in the reports warrant penalties.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 位于普罗维登斯的罗得岛州议会大厦（资料图）。Farragutful摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经Wikimedia Commons。 / The Rhode Island State House in Providence (file photo). Photo by Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
