John Adams
GOP lawmaker reports threatening texts after voting with Dems on vaccine bill
A Republican lawmaker from Kalispell returned home Saturday after receiving what he described as “threatening” text messages. Rep. Frank Garner said the messages he received reference his vote on a bill regarding vaccinations.
State Auditor Rosendale dropped fines against top campaign donor
One day after a 2017 face-to-face meeting with company representatives, Montana State Auditor and Senate candidate Matt Rosendale dropped the fines and dismissed two of the three allegations against Friedell LLC. The company paid no penalty under the terms of the agreement.
Tester vs. Rosendale: Expect pricey, aggressive campaign for U.S. Senate seat
The June 5 primary election gave some clues as to the mood of Montana’s electorate, and all signs point to another competitive — and expensive — U.S. Senate race this fall. Here's a look at what Montanans can expect between now and Nov. 6.
Complaint against Montana’s ‘dark money prosecutor’ dismissed
Deputy Commissioner of Political Practices Kirsten Madsen, in a 19-page order issued Friday, dismissed a complaint filed late last year against Billings attorney Gene Jarussi by Republican political consultant Jake Eaton. Since his appointment by former Commissioner of Political Practices Jonathan Motl in 2015, Jarussi has served as a state special attorney general in charge of prosecuting a series of high-profile lawsuits against candidates and political groups accused of illegal campaign activities.
Dark money group pays $30K fine for breaking Montana campaign finance laws
A dark-money political organization that spent hundreds of thousands of dollars during the 2012 election to support conservative candidates for office has settled a lawsuit accusing it of violating Montana’s campaign finance laws.
Fact check: Senate candidate’s tweet claims VA Montana hired unlicensed docs
Montana Republican Senate candidate Troy Downing deleted a tweet on Wednesday that falsely claimed: “The VA in #Montana has been caught hiring doctors with revoked licenses from other states & former felons.”
Citizens United 2.0: Dark-money riders stripped from final spending bill
A series of dark money riders, dubbed “Citizens United 2.0” by some, were stripped from the omnibus spending bill that passed Congress this week. The riders would have repealed the Johnson Amendment, a 1954 law that that prohibits 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations — including churches — from endorsing or opposing political candidates.
Right-to-work group again accused of meddling in Montana’s elections
A group at the center of one of the biggest elections scandals in modern Montana history is actively engaged in the 2018 election, while hiding its activities and spending, according to a complaint filed with state elections regulators.
Sexual misconduct charges fell judge who sealed report on Cebull’s racist, sexist emails
Alex Kozinski, the federal judge who ordered the results of a lengthy misconduct investigation into a former Montana chief judge be sealed, resigned Monday amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
Montana ‘dark money’ prosecutor accused of campaign violations by GOP operative
Gene Jarussi, a Billings lawyer and the state special attorney general in charge of litigating a series of lawsuits against political candidates for illegal campaign activities, is now himself facing allegations of political misconduct.