PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon Supreme Court has ruled the right to free speech does not protect political contributors who run afoul of campaign finance laws by disguising their contributions.
Multimillionaire developer Tom Moyer was charged with violating a century-old state law that requires contributions be made only in your own name after his granddaughter and an executive assistant donated about $5,000 to a Portland mayoral candidate.
Moyer challenged the law as unconstitutional, arguing it was outdated and limited political contributions as a form of free speech.
But the Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the law is clear — contributions must be made in your own name, and not in the name of your family or employees.
The decision sent the case back to a trial court in Portland.
