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PDC suspends $100 fine for lobbyist who missed a January 2023 L2 filing
Summary
The Public Disclosure Commission found that a lobbyist who missed a January 2023 L2 filing had filed the missing report and imposed a $100 civil penalty suspended for two years on condition of no further violations, citing the respondent's changed employment and personal circumstances.
The Public Disclosure Commission on a brief adjudicative docket found that a lobbyist failed to timely file a January 2023 monthly lobbying expense report (L2) but had since filed the missing report. Christian Schorn told the panel he had registered while employed at an organization that never advanced lobbying activity, reported zero activity for late 2022, resigned in January 2023, and lost access to his work email. He asked for leniency, citing that he is now a full-time firefighter and is due to give birth in a few weeks.
Commissioner Leach proposed and the commission accepted a $100 civil penalty that will be suspended in full if Schorn has no further violations over the next two years. Leach explained the case was largely technical and that the commission did not intend to financially penalize someone for an inadvertent filing failure. Tabitha (PDC staff) confirmed staff had offered a statement-of-understanding option and that the missing report was filed before the hearing.
Schorn: "I didn't realize that I still had filing responsibilities... My apologies." (spoken testimony)
The commission's staff had recommended finding a violation under RCW 42.17A.615 with a base penalty range appropriate to filers with no prior violations. The formal disposition records the suspended $100 penalty and the requirement that no additional violations occur during the suspension period.
