The former chairman of the Federal Election Commission has filed a complaint against a California congressman, accusing him of excessive use of campaign funds to support a conservative coalition seeking to repeal parts of Proposition 47.
“Honestly, I've never seen anything so over-the-top,” Anne Lovell told the Times. She served as Chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission in 2011, and from 2013 until 2017 she served as Chair of the FEC.
In his complaint to the FEC, Lovell alleges that Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin), who is up for re-election this year, raised more than the legal limit of $5,000 in congressional funds to support tough-on-crime reform efforts. , claims to have spent the money. Proposition 47 would reduce some drug and theft felonies to misdemeanors. According to the complaint, Kylie spent $28,000 on the petition and mailing costs, which Lovell claims is “likely not the full amount” of the financial support.
Kiley's team did not respond to The Times' request for comment.
read more: San Francisco Mayor London Breed supports Republican effort to toughen penalties for retail theft
The initiative aims to “repeat Proposition 47” by increasing penalties for some property and drug crimes. It is supported primarily by conservative groups, but also by some Democrats. The deadline for supporters to collect enough signatures to qualify the initiative for the November ballot is April 23.
Lovell acknowledged that Kiley has “long been involved in repealing Proposition 47,” which voters approved in 2014, and is closely associated with the initiative's sponsor, the California Coalition to Reduce Homelessness, Addiction and Theft. He said that they have a similar relationship.
read more: Newsom proposes ways to crack down on property crimes without repealing Proposition 47
The coalition has received more than $3 million from corporate retailers such as Walmart, Macy's, Home Depot and Target. According to Lovell's complaint, one of Kiley's biggest campaign donors is Walmart.
Kylie represents California's 3rd District. He previously served in the state Legislature from 2016 to 2022 and was a challenger to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom in the failed 2021 recall effort.
Sign up for Essential California to get news, features and recommendations from the LA Times and more delivered to your inbox six days a week.
This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
