FEC complaint filed against Jamie Wall campaign

WLUK TV

Updated: Oct 2, 2012 5:35 PM

APPLETON — The man running against incumbent Reid Ribble in the 8th district congressional race could find trouble with the FEC.

A compliant was sent to the Federal Election Commission against Jamie Wall Tuesday.

The allegation are related to his campaign manager Paula Zellner.

Appleton attorney Ron Tusler, who is also the communications director for the Outagamie County Republican Party says the complaint raises ethical questions about Jamie Wall's campaign.

Click here to read the full complaint

"In his disclosures he hasn't been paying his campaign manager, that's a big problem," said Tusler.

Tusler says the complaint is based on a period from October 2011 to April of 2012. He claims Zellner, was not paid by his campaign during that time period. Tusler believes Zellner may have still been on the payroll of her former employer, the Democratic political action committee Wisconsin Jobs Now.

"If there is an explanation for it then lets hear it, if not and Jamie Wall did break federal law, then he should be prosecuted for it," he said.

In an email to FOX 11, Wisconsin Jobs Now lists Zellner as a political coordinator for the group from May 12, 2011 through March 4th 2012. Wall says Zellner started working as campaign manager on March 5th. Wall says he's frustrated by the allegations.

"There's not an ounce of truth to any of this," said Wall.

Campaign announcements dating back to October of 2011 show Zellner's name listed as primary contact. Wall says a computer program meant to keep campaign contact information current has since changed that information.

"Right now all of the press releases dating back to October have my current press secretary's name on them, Chris Kelly," said Wall.

Tusler also alleges receipts filed by Wall's campaign with the government show Zellner making campaign donations dating back to 2011, listing her as campaign manager. Wall says that is because of recent amended information filed with the FEC.

"We are required like any other campaign to update the occupations of our donors, we did that in our database and when we filed our amended report that updated her information," he said.

Tusler says those explanations don't match up with these documents...

"Federal law or FEC regulations have been violated either way."

Now it's up to the Federal Election Commission to decide.

According to the FEC's guidebook, a campaign staffer can work for a PAC. However, there are restrictions on the amount of coordination between the two.

Reid Ribble's campaign manager Jon Schmeider released a statement about the allegations, saying "The families of northeast Wisconsin deserve an investigation that will bring the full facts to light...This latest incident is just another example of how Jamie Wall has failed to meet the standards that Wisconsinites should expect from their representatives."

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