North Dakota Attorney General Voids Ethics Opinion

(Photo by Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)

(North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota’s attorney general says a recent Ethics Commission advisory opinion related to campaign finance law is void, arguing the agency exceeded its authority.

Attorney General Drew Wrigley, in a legal opinion issued late Friday, said the Ethics Commission has no authority to issue an opinion based on general questions of law.

The 15-page opinion relates to guidance the Ethics Commission issued in June, responding to questions from a Fargo lawmaker about whether campaign funds can be used to pay for a candidate’s child care or security expenses. The commission said in an advisory opinion that campaign funds can be used for child care and security in some instances.

Secretary of State Michael Howe asked the attorney general to weigh in on the Ethics Commission advisory opinion, pointing out that it’s his office’s responsibility to oversee campaign finance and election laws.