The previous chair of the Federal Election Fee has filed a grievance towards a California congressman, alleging he excessively used marketing campaign funds to assist a conservative coalition looking for to roll again elements of Proposition 47.
“I’ve by no means seen something fairly this extreme, truthfully,” Ann Ravel instructed The Occasions. She served as chair of the California Honest Political Practices Fee in 2011 and as chair of the FEC from 2013 to 2017.
In her FEC grievance, Ravel alleges that Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin), who’s up for reelection this yr, has solicited and spent congressional funds in extra of the $5,000 authorized restrict to assist the tough-on-crime initiative to reform Proposition 47, which lowered some drug and theft felonies to misdemeanors. Kiley spent $28,000 on petitions and mailing prices, in keeping with the grievance, however Ravel alleges that’s “doubtless not the complete extent” of his monetary assist.
Kiley’s crew didn’t reply to The Occasions’ request for remark.
The initiative seeks to “reverse Prop. 47” by growing penalties for some property crimes and drug offenses. It’s supported primarily by conservative teams however additionally by some Democrats. The deadline for proponents to gather sufficient signatures to qualify the initiative for the November poll is April 23.
Ravel mentioned Kiley has “lengthy been intently recognized with the repeal of Proposition 47,” which voters authorised in 2014, and has a detailed relationship with the initiative’s sponsor, the coalition California to Scale back Homelessness, Drug Dependancy and Theft.
The coalition has obtained greater than $3 million from company retailers, together with Walmart, Macy’s, Residence Depot and Goal. One in every of Kiley’s greatest marketing campaign donors is Walmart, in keeping with Ravel’s grievance.
Kiley represents California’s third District. He beforehand served within the state Meeting from 2016 to 2022 and was a challenger to switch Gov. Gavin Newsom in the failed 2021 recall effort.
