Political Watchdog Recommends Fine Against Wendy Greuel Campaign Donor

SACRAMENTO (AP) — California's political watchdog agency said Monday it is recommending a $76,650 penalty against a donor accused of laundering political contributions to failed Los Angeles mayoral candidate Wendy Greuel in 2013.

The fine was among several announced by the Fair Political Practices Commission and agreed to by the candidates and campaigns.

The largest fine was against Moo Han Bae of Tarzana. The agency said he hosted a fundraiser for then-mayoral candidate Wendy Greuel at his home, collecting checks for the maximum donation of $1,300 per person. In at least nine instances, the agency says, Bae repaid donors with envelopes of $1,300 in cash, violating campaign finance laws that limit contributions that can be made by each donor

Bae acknowledged the claims in a settlement reached with the FPPC and has submitted a check for the state portion of the fines — $22,500. The rest of the money is recommended fines from the Los Angeles Ethics Commission.

The FPPC also recommended a $4,000 fine against the campaign of Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, and a Santa Monica property owner for failing to disclose that Allen received discounted rent at his Santa Monica campaign headquarters. The equivalent of $8,200 in in-kind contributions was over the allowable limit.

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