NEW: RI GOP Calls on Speaker to “Give Up Gavel” After BOE Orders Mattiello to Repay $72K to PAC
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
The Rhode Island Republican Party is calling on Rhode Island Democratic Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello to "give up the gavel," after the Board of Elections ordered Mattiello to repay $72,067.80, which the BOE says was the amount spent by leadership's PAC above what the state campaign-contribution limits allow to help his re-election campaign in 2016.
The Board also revealed the involvement of Mattiello’s campaign aides with a Shawna Lawton, which prompted a warning, and their refusal to comply with subpoenas.
Mattiello won his re-election campaign in 2016 over Republican challenger Steve Frias in mail ballots.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“I am pleased this issue has been resolved. I regret that my campaign inadvertently made some mistakes. I accept the warning from the Board of Elections and will fully repay from my campaign account what is owed to the PAC account," said Mattiello in a statement. "To assure those mistakes are not repeated, right after the 2016 election I hired a CPA with expertise in campaign finance to handle all of the finances.”
GOP on Findings
“Illegal conduct marred Speaker Mattiello’s 2016 re-election campaign. Last night, it was shown that his campaign aides illegally coordinated over the Shawna Lawton endorsement mailer," said RI Republican Party Chairman Brandon Bell.
"His PAC illegally spent over $72,000 to help to help him get re-elected by 85 mail ballots. This cannot be explained away as a series of honest errors. Mattiello would not be in office today but for this illegal activity. When an elected official breaks the law in order to get re-elected, he needs to leave office," said Bell.
The Board of Election recommended that as “no direct coordination” could be established between Mattiello and Lawton, and that “since the amount contributed in-kind to Mattiello by Lawton which [exceed] the allowable annual contribution limit was refunded by Mattiello to Lawton…that a warning be issued by the Board to contributor Shawna Lawton against making any further contributions which exceed the allowable annual limits and to recipient Nicholas Mattiello abasing accepting contributions which exceed the allowable annual limits.”
“Speaker Mattiello’s 2016 reelection campaign made history. He ran the most expensive race for a seat in the General Assembly in Rhode Island history, approximately $344,137 once the illegal campaign spending by [his] PAC is included," said Bell. "Mattiello spent just under $100 a vote. Now his campaign must pay what is probably the biggest penalty ever imposed in Rhode Island campaign finance history. Speaker Mattiello should just give up the gavel and become part of Rhode Island history.”
Related Articles
- PawSox Deal Looks Dead for 2017, Mattiello Raises Concerns
- Mattiello Calls on Raimondo to Hold Plans for Expired Vehicle Inspection Charges
- Speaker Mattiello Targeted By City of Pawtucket with Ads in Cranston Newspaper
- PawSox Target Mattiello with Mailer and Meeting in Speaker’s District: UPDATED
- Mattiello Cites GoLocal Poll in Rejecting Senate PawSox Measure
- Speaker Mattiello and NASA Scientist Kowal Arcand on LIVE Monday
- Frias Goes Door-to-Door in Mattiello’s District Voicing Opposition to PawSox Stadium Funding
- RI GOP Claims Mattiello, Montanaro Jr. are Misleading Taxpayers
- LIVE Thursday: Speaker Mattiello, Chief Tikoian, URI Shark Researcher and More
- Mattiello Blasts Kilmartin on St. Joseph Pension Fund Bankruptcy
- Iacoi, Top Lawyer at RI Public Safety, Moving to Speaker Mattiello’s Office as Chief Legal Counsel
- Big Thursday and Friday on GoLocal LIVE - Raimondo, Mattiello, and Pryor
- Friday on LIVE: Gov. Raimondo, Speaker Mattiello, Receiver Del Sesto
- Fecteau: An Open Letter to Speaker Mattiello on the PawSox
- UPDATED: Mattiello to Push Legislation to Force Ethics Comm to Post Financial Disclosure Online
- Mattiello Announces Study Commission to Review Sexual Harassment in Workplace
- Speaker Mattiello in Negotiations with PawSox
- Mattiello’s New Appointee Had Confrontation With Providence City Councilman
- “Red Flag” Legislation Will be Taken Up in Coming Weeks, Says Mattiello on LIVE
- NEW: Mattiello, Ruggerio Appoint Legislative Commission to Study Line Item Veto
- Raimondo and Mattiello Back-to-Back on LIVE - Talk PawSox, Partners Health, and $1B for Schools
- Mattiello Introduces Bill Allowing Partial-Fill Prescription Option on Opioids
- Ruggerio, Mattiello, and Shekarchi on GoLocal LIVE From the RI State House on Thurs at 3 PM
- Two Top RI GOP Women Leaders Discuss Trump’s Address, Raimondo & More on GoLocal LIVE
- RI GOP Calls for Investigation Into Campaign Violations from Mattiello’s PAC
- RI GOP Announces 2017 Hall of Fame Class
- RI GOP Honoring Sean Spicer with $1,000 and Up Private Reception and Fundraiser
- Unfair & Unrealistic Criticism of RI GOP Lawmakers: Guest Mindsetter™ Deckman
- Few RI GOP Leaders Speak Out on Trump’s Immigration Order
- Chair Calls on RI GOP to Drop Their Subscriptions to the Providence Journal
- NEW: RI GOP Chair Bell “Seriously Considering” Filing Elections Complaint Against Raimondo
- NEW: RI GOP Files Board of Elections Complaint Over Lawton’s Mattiello Mailer
- NEW: Mattiello Calls RI GOP Elections Complaint “Meritless”
- EXCLUSIVE: RI GOP’s Secret Plan to Influence State House if Mattiello Loses
- RI GOP’s Spicer Event Canceled
- Trillo Announces For Governor as Independent - Does That Doom RI GOP?
- NEW: RI GOP Blasts Ethics Commission for “Making Excuses for Raimondo”
- RI GOP Files Federal Elections Complaint Over Raimondo-Providence Dems Fundraising Agreement
- RI GOP Says RI Democrats Sound Like Trump
- RI GOP’s Mendonca on PawSox, Trump, 2018 and More, on LIVE
- RI GOP Chair Brandon Bell Refuses to Answer Questions About Trump and Charlottesville
- Former RI GOP Candidate Taub: “Both Sides Responsible” in Charlottesville
- RI GOP’s Leading Latino Speaks Out on Trump and the Future of the Party in RI
- RI GOP’s Roberts on Latest RhodeMap RI, Now RI Rising, Concerns
- RI GOP Senate Candidate Flanders on Refusing Opioid Co. Money, on LIVE
- House Passes Mattiello’s Bills Allowing Patients to Stop Chance of Opioid Addiction