TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION IN THE MATTER OF
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HAROLD DUTTON, RESPONDENT
BEFORE THE TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION SC-3220136
ORDER and AGREED RESOLUTION I. Recitals The Texas Ethics Commission (Commission) met on September 27, 2023, to consider sworn complaint SC-3220136. A quorum of the Commission was present. The Commission determined that there is credible evidence of violations of Sections 254.031(a)(1), 254.031(a)(6), 254.061(3), 254.091(2), and 255.001 of the Election Code, and Section 20.59 of the Ethics Commission Rules, laws administered and enforced by the Commission. To resolve and settle this complaint without further proceedings, the Commission adopted this resolution.
II. Allegations The complaint alleged, concerning the pre-election reports that the respondent filed for the March 3, 2020 primary election, July 14, 2020 primary runoff election, and November 3, 2020 general election, that the respondent: 1) failed to disclose political committees from which he had received notice under Section 254.161 of the Election Code, in violation of Section 254.061(3) or Section 254.091(2) of the Election Code; 2) failed to disclose in-kind contributions from political committees, in violation of Sections 254.031(a)(1) and 254.031(a)(6) of the Election Code; and 3) failed to disclose political expenditures made by credit card on the schedule of the campaign finance report form for credit card expenditures, in violation of Section 20.59 of the Ethics Commission Rules. The complaint further alleged that the respondent failed to include the political advertising disclosure statement on his campaign website, in violation of Section 255.001 of the Election Code.
III. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law Credible evidence available to the Commission supports the following findings of fact and conclusions of law:
ORDER AND AGREED RESOLUTION
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