El Paso County GOP accused of breaking marketing campaign finance guidelines by its own Vice Chair

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — Higher ranking Republican Occasion associates in El Paso County say tens of countless numbers of bucks and higher selling price auction goods are lacking next a fundraiser.

El Paso County GOP Vice-Chair Karl Schneider filed a complaint with the Secretary of State’s Business on Tuesday. He accuses the El Paso County GOP and Chair Vicki Tonkins of breaking campaign finance laws.

In the grievance received by 13 Investigates, Schneider alleges the party’s failure to report expenditures or contributions for the Lincoln Day Dinner on August 6th. The keynote speaker for that fundraising party was Ga Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.

“We know this was a very effective meal,” mentioned Schneider in a letter to Kristi Burton Brown Chair of the Colorado Republican Committee. “It was attended by about 400 men and women with numerous auction items, and allegedly grossed close to $50,000. All receipts must be adequately accounted for.”

According to emails in the complaint, then-treasurer of the El Paso County GOP John Pitchford advised high position customers of the celebration on Oct. 1 that he was obtaining trouble getting correct information from the function, and asked for a ‘full stock of all Lincoln Working day items marketed and unsold.’

“I don’t comprehend what’s heading on. There appears to be a whole lot of instability,” stated Schneider to 13 Investigates on Wednesday. “There were being missing (auction) objects. Some superior-greenback value jewelry. (The treasurer) was unable to account for donations.”

The El Paso County GOP Vice Chair tells 13 Investigates he does not know in which at minimum $50,000 in fundraising revenue presently is.

In the complaint, Schneider states he is involved the ‘party has violated and is violating the Good Marketing campaign Techniques Act.’

Eleven times soon after the initial e mail inquiring for a total inventory of the goods, Pitchford introduced his retirement to the El Paso County GOP management via email.

Schneider states El Paso County GOP Chair Tonkins has disregarded any requests to hand about receipts from the fundraising party.

“It is very significant we have a entire in-depth audit of all the monies collected and all the donations gathered,” mentioned Schneider. “We make sure they are accounted for and we can go ahead from there.”

Schneider is now contacting a for a specific session for the El Paso County Republican Government Committee to explore the missing campaign money and auction goods. So far, Schneider states the social gathering chair has ignored these phone calls.

13 Investigates attained out to El Paso County GOP Chair Vickie Tonkins several situations. She did not answer.

The Colorado Secretary of State’s Business office is presently reviewing the grievance. They have ten enterprise days to critique it. 13 Investigates attained out to the Secretary of State’s Workplace to ask what will come after a dedication is built. We are still waiting around on a reaction.

Editor’s Take note: A earlier model of this story mentioned Colorado GOP Chairwoman Kristi Brown Burton sent a letter inquiring for an audit of the alleged missing funds in the El Paso County GOP. The letter was penned by El Paso County GOP Vice Chair Karl Schneider and sent to Kristi Brown Burton.