Commission fines Uniting Missouri PAC over Parson flights

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Ethics Commission fined a political action committee on Monday that supports Gov. Mike Parson.

According to online records, the commission considered the complaint filed against Parson and his candidate committee, Parson for Missouri, as well as the Uniting Missouri PAC and its treasurer during its meeting Monday.

The commission dismissed the accusations against Parson and his candidate committee.

However, the commission did fine Uniting Missouri $2,000.

The complaint centered around two flights Parson and Uniting Missouri took in late 2019 and early 2020, neither of which were reported in time to comply with state law. The law requires candidates and committees to report any contribution greater than $5,000 within 48 hours.

The first flight happened Dec. 11, 2019 to Washington, D.C., but was not reported to the MEC until March 4. The second flight took place on Feb. 2 to Miami, Florida, but the committee didn't report the contribution until Feb. 11.

The MEC separately ruled that they didn't find any evidence that Parson was fundraising on behalf of his own candidate committee at either event. While Parson's own committee did hold a fundraiser in Florida, the commission said, the event was held after Uniting Missouri had secured the plane ride.

Uniting Missouri can avoid paying the full penalty if it pays $200 within 45 days.