Didier files lawsuit over alleged campaign ethics violation

RICHLAND -- U.S. Fourth Congressional candidate Clint Didier filed a lawsuit in federal court this week accusing a volunteer from his opponent's campaign of using public resources, and asking that the alleged activities be stopped.

The volunteer said he stopped the activities that prompted the lawsuit when questions arose in July.

Didier announced the lawsuit in a press release issued Thursday.

According to the Associated Press, Washington State Potato Commission

Chairman Christopher Voigt, Moses Lake, said he used his potato commission email and vehicle for some activities related to the campaign of Dan Newhouse.

Didier claims those actions violate federal law and that he is filing the lawsuit to stop any further violations while the Washington Executive Ethics Board looks into the complaint, according to the Associated Press.

Voight said Friday that he stopped the activities when he discovered they might be violations of campaign ethics rules, according to the AP report.

When the allegations surfaced, Voigt said Didier's camp was making a "mountain out of a molehill."

"For somebody who is campaigning against the wasteful use of tax dollars, that is exactly what he is doing with this frivolous lawsuit," said Newhouse campaign spokesman Jim Keough.

The Washington State Executive Ethics Commission did not return phone calls requesting the status of the Didier's complaint.

- Staff report