Coffman Alleges "Protect Colorado Jobs" Committee Broke Law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                     

August 7th, 2008                                                                                

Complaint with Federal Elections Commission

Highlands Ranch, CO - Secretary of State Mike Coffman, who is a candidate for Congress in the 6th District, has filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC), today, alleging that "Protect Colorado Jobs" a nonprofit 501(C) 4 committee violated federal campaign finance laws.

It is illegal under federal campaign finance laws for political campaigns for federal office to launder campaign funds through a nonprofit corporation in order to evade contribution limits.  The complaint will enable the Federal Election Commission to subpoena the bank records of "Protect Colorado Jobs" to see where the money came from to pay for the mailing against Coffman. 

According to the complaint, Cerveny used the nonprofit 501(C) 4 committee, "Protect Colorado Jobs," as a cover to pay for and send out a mass mailing against Coffman.  Curt Cerveny, was the treasurer for a nonprofit 501(C) 4 committee called, "Protect Colorado Jobs."  John Berry, the attorney for "Protect Colorado Jobs" has publicly apologized to Coffman stating that the mailing was inaccurate and that Cerveny did not have the authority to do the mailing.  Cerveny has since resigned from the committee.

"Protect Colorado Jobs" has not come clean on who prepared the mailing, how it was paid for, and on whose behalf it was sent out.  Until they do, this mailing is their responsibility and they should bear whatever penalties are associated with having violated federal campaign finance laws," said Coffman's campaign manager Dustin Zvonek.

In a statement released earlier through the Coffman campaign, Congressman Tom Tancredo condemned the mailing as an underhanded attack against Coffman.  He said in a statement released thought the Coffman campaign "I will speak out against what I consider to be underhanded attacks on any candidate by individuals hiding behind the shield of an organization from which, they hope to obtain "cover."  Apparently such an attack was launched against Mike Coffman.

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