Judge says Tim Eyman violated order to turn over documents

OLYMPIA – A Snohomish County Superior Court judge has ruled that Tim Eyman and his political committees violated her order to turn over documents by a court-ordered deadline as part of an investigation of campaign finance practices, but deferred ruling on whether to hold them in contempt.

In an order issued Friday, Judge Ellen J. Fair granted Attorney General Bob Ferguson the authority to seek documents directly from the federal government and the banks of Eyman’s committees.

Eyman has proposed numerous tax-limiting initiatives over the years. Last fall, the state Public Disclosure Commission said it discovered several potential violations of campaign finance law.

The findings included allegations Eyman used $170,000 in contributions to a political committee for living expenses.

A Thurston County court is set to hold a separate contempt hearing Aug. 26. There’s also a hearing Aug. 31 in Snohomish related to the attorney general’s motion for attorneys’ fees.

Eyman attorney Mark Lamb said his clients have cooperated with the investigation for the past four years.