(14th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT) – Assemblymen Wayne P. DeAngelo and Daniel R. Benson on Wednesday announced they will introduce legislation to require legal defense fundraisers held by elected officials and candidates to adhere to state campaign finance and pay-to-play prohibition laws.
“Anyone has the right to hold a legal defense fund-raiser, but such events must be transparent and above board for elected officials,” said DeAngelo (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “Legal defense fundraisers should not be an excuse to bypass campaign contribution limits and pay-to-play laws that are designed to protect the public trust. The public has a right to know these laws are being respected.”
“Extending campaign finance laws and pay-to-play bans to legal defense fundraising by elected officials and candidates is just common sense,” said Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “These laws exist for a reason, and elected officials and candidates should not be able to end-run them simply because it’s for their legal defense. We need to ensure they’re adhering to the intentions of state law, no matter the type of fund-raiser.”
The legislators said their bill is being drafted and will be introduced as soon as possible.
