The state prosecutor has filed criminal charges against retiring Del. Clarence Davis and civil charges against Sen. John Giannetti for alleged violations of campaign laws, and accepted a $2,000 fine from Constellation Energy Senior Vice President David Nevins, a regent of the University System of Maryland.
Giannetti, who represents parts of Anne Arundel and Prince George?s counties, faces a closely contested re-election battle on Tuesday against former Del. James Rosapepe.
State Prosecutor Robert Rohrbaugh, who enforces state campaign and ethics laws, filed charges on Friday against Davis, who has served in the Legislature 24 years, alleging that he “failed to pass campaign financial assets through the hands of his duly appointed treasurer.”
The State Board of Elections referred the case to Rohrbaugh, whose office investigated “the irregularities” in record-keeping.
The charge is a misdemeanor punishable with a maximum sentence of one year in prison or a $25,000 fine. On Friday, Rohrbaugh filed a civil citation against Giannetti, charging that he distributed campaign material without a treasurer?s authority line.
The charges stemmed from fundraising e-mails and solicitations on the senator?s campaign Web site. The maximum fine for the violation is $5,000.
“The people who make the law should be expected to comply with the law,” Rohrbaugh said in a statement. “This office intends to continue to scrutinize the various campaigns to assure compliance with the law.”
The prosecutor on Aug. 2 had filed a civil citation against Nevins, former chairman of the regents, alleging he went over the $10,000 limit on campaign gifts by $2,000. Nevins was fined $2,000.
On Aug. 15, the prosecutor also filed a civil citation against Gray and Sons Inc., a Timonium excavation contractor, for giving $1,045 more than the limit, and the company was fined that amount.
The prosecutor?s office said 20 people and companies have been fined for violating contribution limits during the past two years.
