May 20, 2009

Colorado Ethics Watch learned today that former U.S. Congressman Scott McInnis has finally filed his candidate affidavit for governor, following weeks of questionable campaigning and a formal request from Ethics Watch for an investigation by Secretary of State Bernie Buescher into possible campaign finance violations.  Mr. McInnis quietly filed the paperwork a day after Ethics Watch submitted new evidence of his unlawful campaigning to Secretary Buescher. 

Ethics Watch had requested that Secretary Buescher invoke his authority to launch a formal inquiry into whether Mr. McInnis violated state campaign finance law by publicly announcing his candidacy for governor and subsequently soliciting, receiving or expending campaign funds before filing his candidate affidavit and registering a candidate committee.  Ethics Watch also asked the secretary of state to investigate whether Mr. McInnis violated laws prohibiting coordination between a candidate and a 527 political organization. 

“Despite statements from his campaign staff that Mr. McInnis would announce his candidacy on his own terms, his secret filing makes it obvious that he caved under pressure from Ethics Watch,” said Chantell Taylor, director of Ethics Watch.  “While we are glad to see Mr. McInnis come clean, he apparently still has not registered a campaign committee and questions still remain about whether he unlawfully accepted contributions before doing so.  Where there is smoke there is fire and Mr. McInnis’ actions suggest that he has been skirting the law to avoid regulation and accountability.  Clearly, a formal investigation by Secretary Buescher is still necessary.”