A recent letter from an official at the Maryland State Board of Elections has asked the state prosecutor’s office to investigate the Bob Ehrlich for Maryland Committee based on an anonymous complaint of impermissible disbursements and giving money for the procuring of a vote.
“After a review of the matter and evidence presented (enclosed),” wrote Jared DeMarinis, director of the division of candidacy and campaign finance, “it has been determined that probable cause exists to warrant further investigation and possible enforcement action.”
An official in the state prosecutor’s office said he could neither confirm nor deny if an investigation into the matter had begun.
“Any time that the state board of elections refers a matter to us, we look to see whether we have jurisdiction of the matter and, if so, we handle it accordingly,” said Steven Trostle, senior assistant state prosecutor.
At the heart of the complaint is a six-page letter sent out by the Ehrlich campaign telling potential donors that it “is the most important letter” Ehrlich has ever written.
“I am sending you this dollar at this late stage of the campaign because I wanted to make sure I had your undivided attention — and because I trust that you will respond again,” Ehrlich wrote. “I’m asking you to return this dollar along with a contribution of $500 or more in the postage-paid reply envelope provided.”
Shareese DeLeaver, a spokeswoman for the Ehrlich campaign, previously dismissed the call for an investigation as “ridiculous,” and said the campaign used the same strategy in 2002. DeLeaver said Tuesday the campaign hasn’t gotten any of the dollars back and would not say how many were sent out.
The dollars went to donors who have already given once during this campaign, DeLeaver said, and no one has contacted the office about the mailing.
