HELENA, Mont. (AP) - The Latest on a Montana lawmaker’s campaign finance trial (all times local):
7 p.m.
The jury has reached a verdict in the case of a Montana lawmaker on trial for alleged campaign finance violations.
Jurors deliberated about four hours Friday before announcing to the court they had reached a decision.
State Rep. Art Wittich is accused of taking illegal in-kind contributions from and coordinating with eight nonprofit corporate organizations in his 2010 election campaign.
The Bozeman Republican denies the allegations.
3:45 p.m.
A jury is deliberating in the trial of a Montana lawmaker accused of taking illegal corporate contributions in 2010.
Jurors took the case Friday afternoon after attorneys for Rep. Art Wittich and Commissioner of Political Practices Jonathan Motl made their closing statements.
Special Attorney General Gene Jarussi ticked off a list of services Motl alleges that Wittich received after he provided information to groups affiliated with the National Right to Work Committee. They include voter data, direct voter mail, opposition research, candidate training and third-party letters supporting Wittich and attacking his opponent.
Wittich attorney Quentin Rhoades says there must be actual, objective evidence to show Wittich coordinated with the groups, and Motl failed to deliver. He implored the jury to put an end to the “difficult and long road” that Wittich has been on as a result of the investigation.
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12:20 p.m.
Testimony has ended in the trial against a Montana lawmaker accused of taking illegal corporate contributions in his 2010 campaign.
The case is expected to go to the jury for deliberation Friday afternoon.
Rep. Art Wittich testified earlier that he properly paid for and reported the services his campaign received. He says he had no knowledge of organizations affiliated with the National Right to Work Committee doing work on his behalf.
He accuses Commissioner of Political Practices Jonathan Motl targeting him for a prosecution that unjustly smeared his name and delegitimized his campaign.
Questioning Wittich, Special Attorney General Gene Jarussi recapped the case he has built: That Right to Work groups wrote letters on Wittich’s behalf, prepared data for him, trained him as a candidate and built a website for him.
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8:50 a.m.
Testimony is wrapping up in the trial of a Montana lawmaker accused of taking illegal corporate contributions from eight organizations affiliated with an anti-union group.
Rep. Art Wittich is telling jurors that he simply hired a printer to produce voter mail and design a website for his 2010 campaign. Commissioner of Political Practices Jonathan Motl says the Bozeman Republican knowingly took a wide range of unreported campaign services from the corporations under the umbrella of the National Right to Work Committee.
Wittich’s testimony is expected to conclude Friday. The jury will then get the case and decide whether Wittich coordinated with the groups, accepted the services and what the value of the services was.
If the jury upholds Motl’s findings, Wittich could face penalties up to removal from office.
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