AG Ferguson files $2.1M campaign finance lawsuit against Tim Eyman

AG Bob Ferguson

Attorney General Bob Ferguson today filed a campaign finance lawsuit against Tim Eyman, alleging improper personal use of $308,000 in contributions made to political committees, concealment of contributions totaling $490,185 and misleading reporting.

The lawsuit also accuses for-profit signature gathering firm Citizen Solutions of participating in a scheme to conceal campaign money the company funneled to Eyman.

If successful, Eyman and his for-profit company, Tim Eyman Watchdog for Taxpayers, could face $1.8 million in penalties, plus $308,000 in reimbursement.

Citizen Solutions and one of its principals, William Agazarm, could face penalties up to $924,555.

Ferguson will also ask the court to bar Eyman from participating in or directing financial transactions for any political committees going forward.

A 2002 agreement permanently barred Eyman from serving as treasurer for political committees.

Yet, the lawsuit alleges, Eyman still managed to weave an elaborate web of financial transactions to hide campaign funds, enriching himself while keeping his contributors and the public at large in the dark.

This scheme duped contributors who thought they were donating to one initiative, but instead were supporting Eyman’s personal expenses and a completely different initiative.

“Taking kickbacks from contractors, using campaign funds for personal expenses, redirecting donations made for one initiative to a different initiative — it’s hard to imagine what more Mr. Eyman could have done to show his contempt for our campaign finance disclosure laws,” Ferguson said.