The exterior dome of the Wisconsin state Capitol is seen in Madison Feb. 15, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) — The State Ethics Commission wants an investigation into alleged campaign finance violations by State Representative Janel Brandtjen.
Wispolitics.com reports Brandtjen allegedly helped move tens of thousands of dollars to the campaign of Adam Steen, who lost to Assembly Speaker Robin Vos in a primary race in 2022 which violates donation limits by individuals.
The commission also accused eight other people, and the Republican parties from three counties, of getting involved in the alleged scheme. Vos ran afoul of supporters of Donald Trump like Brandtjen, who say Vos didn’t do enough to support Trump’s claims of election fraud.
Investigators discovered that the Langlade County GOP gave Steen’s campaign, which raised $174,129 in 2022, more than $40,000. The party contributed $44,702 to Steen’s campaign between July 7 and November 8, according to state campaign finance disclosures that WisPolitics examined.
A recently filed open records request revealed that Antigo mayor Terry Brand has been named in the investigation after the Commission found probable cause to believe that criminal violations of campaign finance law occurred and referred those matters to the appropriate District Attorneys.
The Commission cannot prosecute its findings on its own but has sent its reports to local district attorneys for review.
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