The Maine Ethics Commission voted unanimously to investigate assistant Republican Senate leader Andre Cushing’s political action committee. Steve Mistler has more.
The vote followed a preliminary review by commission staff which questioned why Cushing did not disclose $20,000 in donations from several companies he controls in campaign finance reports.
The commission’s inquiry was initiated by a complaint from Cushing’s sister, Laura Cushing McIntyre, who is also suing her brother for allegedly siphoning over $1 million in assets from a family business. That case is now before Maine Superior Court, and Cushing has said the lawsuit by his sister is without merit.
Josh Tardy, who is representing Cushing in the ethics complaint, told the commission on Wednesday that the legislator welcomes the investigation and will fully cooperate.
The Ethics investigation is expected to continue well past Election Day. Cushing is seeking his fifth term in the Legislature and his third in the Senate. He is faces independent Dennis Marble in his re-election bid.
