Washingtonians For Ethical Government (WFEG), a nonprofit founded to serve as a people’s campaign finance watchdog for the Evergreen State, announced today that it has filed a complaint with the Public Disclosure Commission against Dave Reichert, Jaime Herrera Beutler, and Let’s Go Washington for accepting contributions made in violation of Washington State’s public disclosure laws by a wealthy donor named Lawrence Patrick Hughes. WFEG alleges that Hughes has, over the course of the past year, illegally donated thousands of dollars to each in the name of his deceased wife, Mary Ellen Hughes.
According to her obituary in The Seattle Times, Mary Ellen Hughes passed away on October 14th, 2023. Her funeral was subsequently held at St. James Cathedral in Seattle. She was beloved by her family and many in the community. Her obituary describes her as “a quiet philanthropist who gave generously to promote education, the arts and medical research.” The obituary adds:
Hundreds of students had their educations enhanced by her anonymous generosity, just the way she liked it. She was active in the Seattle Junior League, the Seattle Garden Club and the Seattle Tennis Club. She served on several boards including Seattle Children’s Hospital, The Lakeside School, The Seattle Children’s Theater and was an early member of the Seattle Repertory Theater Board.
Given her fondness for donating anonymously while alive, it is all the more perplexing that Lawrence Patrick Hughes chose to repeatedly make illegal disclosable contributions in Mary Ellen’s name after she had passed away, in violation of Washington’s Fair Campaign Practices Act.
State law caps the amount that a single individual can give to a candidate’s campaign in each election, but Lawrence Patrick Hughes decide to circumvent that cap by claiming to be donating to two statewide Republican candidates on behalf of two people — himself and Mary Ellen Hughes.
Reports filed with the PDC show donations made in Mary Ellen Hughes’ name in December of 2023 (to Dave Reichert), April of 2024 (to Jaime Herrera Beutler), and August of 2024 (to Let’s Go Washington, sponsored by Brian Heywood.). WFEG is asking the Public Disclosure Commission to investigate these donations and take appropriate action if it confirms that state law was violated.
RCW 42.17A.435, a provision of the Fair Campaign Practices Act, provides that “[n]o contribution shall be made and no expenditure shall be incurred, directly or indirectly, in a fictitious name, anonymously, or by one person through an agent, relative, or other person in such a manner as to conceal the identity of the source of the contribution or in any other manner so as to effect concealment.”
“It appears that Lawrence Patrick Hughes made several contributions through the name of his deceased wife in such a manner that would conceal himself as the true source of the contributions,” wrote two of WFEG’s attorneys, Dmitri Iglitzin and Marina Multhaup, in a letter to the PDC. “If true, such behavior would violate Washington state law and jeopardize the transparency of Washington’s elections.”
“We are extremely concerned that Let’s Go Washington and top Republicans running for office this year are taking contributions from beyond the grave,” said WFEG boardmember Sherry Bockwinkel.
“Multimillionaire Brian Heywood’s effort to promote a slate of misleading ballot initiatives in Washington has already been found to have violated the Fair Campaign Practices Act by the Public Disclosure Commission. Now, Heywood’s committee and two statewide candidates supporting their destructive schemes have gone even farther, accepting contributions from a donor who isn’t even alive. Sorry, Republicans, but dead people can’t donate to political campaigns. We urge the Public Disclosure Commission to take swift action to ensure the parties involved are held accountable for their lawbreaking and foul play.”
