CO Ethics Watch Files Complaint Against Clear The Bench

by: Fong

Wed May 05, 2010 at 13:40:39 PM MST

Clear the Bench is registered as an issue committee, the type of committee that is formed to advocate for or against a ballot initiative. Amendment 27, however, clearly states that judges being voted for retention on an election ballot shall be considered candidates, which means that outside groups formed to advocate for or against those candidates must register as political committees, which are subject to contribution limits. Claiming to be an issue committee, Clear the Bench has accepted contributions over the $525 political committee limit and is actively seeking large contributions.  However, Ethics Watch points out that since Clear the Bench's sole purpose is to influence voters to vote against these judges as candidates, they must be held to the same campaign finance restrictions as a political committee.

If their status is found to be unlawful, will they have enough time to give their donations back, start re-collecting as a political committee (basically a PAC), and then re-promote their cause with a tarnished reputation as law-breakers?