HELENA – A former state lawmaker has paid a $70,000 penalty for violating campaign finance laws.
Commissioner of Political Practices Jeff Mangan said Monday that Wesley Prouse of Shepherd had satisfied a January 2016 judgment, plus interest, for accepting $9,400 in illegal and unreported campaign aid in 2010.
Prouse was one of nine lawmakers charged with receiving political support from the National Right to Work Committee, including promotional letters and opponent attack mail. Prouse served in the Legislature in 1998 and ran again in 2010, but did not report any campaign spending.
District Judge James Reynolds found Prouse received $9,100 in illegal in-kind support and did not report $320 in cash contributions. Nonprofit groups can campaign on issues, but not for candidates or in coordination with candidates. The initial judgment totaled $59,000.
The money goes into the state’s general fund.