Via the Baltimore Sun:
The campaign manager for Rep. Albert R. Wynn has filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission alleging fundraising improprieties by Donna Edwards, his chief rival in next month's Democratic primary.
The Wynn campaign gave reporters copies of a 34-count complaint today alleging illegal collaboration between Edwards and several of the organizations supporting her in the Fourth District contest.
"There seems to be a vast, dare I say, left-wing conspiracy designed to circumvent campaign finance laws," Wynn told reporters during a conference call. "Within this scheme, her supporters are coordinating efforts to exceed fundraising limits and engaging in illegal campaign activities."
In a statement, Edwards dismissed the complaint as "a desperate 11th hour attempt" by Wynn "to deflect from the fact that groups representing the core of the Democratic party and the issues it stands for – worker's rights, affordable housing, protecting women's right to choose, the environment - have decided that they want to fire him and are supporting me."
An attorney with the independent Campaign Legal Center in Washington who was asked by The Sun to review the complaint said it didn't appear to contain any facts that would constitute illegal collaboration.
"Interestingly, and unlike most complaints filed with the Federal Election Commission, there's not a single provision of federal campaign finance law directly cited in the complaint," attorney Paul Ryan said. "Several of the allegations, in my view, make clear the complainant doesn't really have a clear understanding of what constitutes coordination under federal law."
Keep in mind, Al Wynn collaborated with Republican Bob Ney on campaign finance law changes that would have once again allowed soft money in elections, giving incumbents more financial advantages. And he's had Energy PACs and Telecom PACs doing big fundraisers in DC for him in this election cycle. Now he's blowing smoke, accusing his challenger of breaking FEC laws? Heh.
The irony is delicious and dare I say comes straight out of the Karl Rove political handbook......
The fact is, Al Wynn knows he's in trouble and will do and say anything to get re-elected. There has been polling being done by various groups and probably Wynn himself, and I suspect that the polling has shown Donna Edwards leading this race.
The fact is, after 15 years, voters are ready for a change of representation in Maryland's 4th Congressional District.