TX: State Democratic Party files lawsuit against King Street Patriots

Following a complaint filed by Texans for Public Justice with the state ethics board early Monday, alleging that a Houston tea party spinoff has violated Texas’ prohibition on corporate campaign contributions, the state Democratic Party is taking action of their own against the non-profit 501(c)4 group King Street Patriots.

“King Street Patriots, much like the Green Party affair we learned of a few months ago, evidently believes the law doesn’t apply to them,” said Texas Democratic Party General Counsel Chad Dunn during a conference call with reporters.

TDP added King Street Patriots to a lawsuit they had previously filed against the state Green Party seeking to reveal their sources of funding. The complaint against King Street Patriots alleges that the non-profit has engaged in direct electioneering to support Republicans candidates without properly registering with the Texas Ethics Commission or disclosing their donors to the IRS.

Additionally, Dunn said the Democrats intend to file a report soon alleging voter intimidation tactics by KSP/True The Vote poll watchers. He said the report will include video and statements by TDP witnesses.

Voter intimidation by KSP/TTV is “not a matter of concern. It’s a matter of fact,” alleged Dunn, accusing poll watchers on the first day of early voting of standing behind people trying to vote, shouting misinformation and other activities.

From the Democrats’ press release announcing the lawsuit:

“The King Street Patriots are working to elect Republicans, that fact is beyond dispute,” said Anthony Gutierrez, a spokesperson for the Texas Democratic Party. “And that would be fine except that neither the group nor the Republicans seem to want to follow the laws everyone else has to follow. They’re hiding money, they’re campaigning without registering their committee and there are illegal corporate contributions flying around all over the place.”

Previously, the Texas Independent has reported on King Street Patriots: KSP/TTV has an agreement with the Harris County GOP (but not local Democrats) to train poll worker volunteers;
KSP/TTV volunteers are not expecting voter fraud but will be prepared to address it on Election Day;
KSP/TTV’s GOP-only candidate forums may break state or federal laws, according to experts;
and, TPJ says video of a Texas House candidate speaking at KSP is evidence of violations.

(Photo: Flickr Creative Commons/digitizedchaos, Image by: Matt Mahurin)