Art Wittich

Recent Posts

Office of Disciplinary Counsel files complaint against Wittich

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Wittich

The state Office of Disciplinary Counsel filed a complaint against former state Sen. Art Wittich on Monday, charging him with professional misconduct. The complaint, filed with the Commission on Practice of the Montana Supreme Court by Chief Disciplinary Counsel Michael Cotter, stems from Wittich’s trial in 2016, when he was found liable for violations of state campaign finance laws. This past August, the state high court turned down Wittich’s four-part appeal of that decision. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Montana, News, Art Wittich, Commissioner of Political Practices, Montana Supreme Court, Office of Disciplinary Counsel

Prairie Lights: Did someone say ‘political hack’?

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Confer

Having lost in District Court and now at the Montana Supreme Court, former state Sen. Art Wittich has appealed again to the court of public opinion, airing the same old grievances and portraying his lawless self as the victim of a dastardly conspiracy. Before the start of his trial on charges of breaking campaign finance laws, Wittich said then-Commissioner of Political Practices Jonathan Motl, who filed the charges, had no case. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Prairie Lights, Art Wittich, Daniel Kennedy, Debra Bonogofsky, Jonathan Motl, National Right to Work Committee

Another candidate admits guilt in corruption case

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Wag

Another Montana politician accused of illegally accepting campaign contributions from corporations has admitted his guilt and agreed to pay a fine. Pat M. Wagman signed a settlement agreement in which he agreed to pay a civil fine of $19,599 by Oct. 1, and to pay $100 a day for every day after that if the fine is not paid in full. Wagman signed the settlement on Aug. 8 and it was signed Friday by state Commissioner of Political Practices Jeff Magnan. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Montana, News, Art Wittich, Jeff Magnan, Jonathan Motl, National Right to Work, Pat Wagman

High court rejects Wittich appeal in corruption case

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Wittich

The Montana Supreme Court has denied former state Sen. Art Wittich’s four-part appeal of his conviction on charges of violating Montana’s campaign finance laws. Justice Beth Baker said in the 42-page opinion that the high court affirmed all of the District Court judge’s rulings in the case, and it found that former state Commissioner of Political Practices Jonathan Motl did nothing illegal in filing the action against Wittich in District Court. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Montana, News, Art Wittich, Jonathan Motl, Montana Supreme Court

Jailed ex-lawmaker called prosecution ‘political game’

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Prouse

The former state legislator who was jailed on Tuesday for contempt of court reportedly refused to cooperate with authorities regarding his involvement in a political corruption scandal, calling the court case against him “a political game.” Wesley Prouse, of Shepherd, who will turn 49 on Thursday, was in jail and could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but the Billings lawyer who prosecuted several Republican legislative candidates involved in the so-called dark-money cases gave an account of the events that landed Prouse in jail. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Montana, News, Art Wittich, Gene Jarussi, John Heenan, Jonathan Motl, National Right to Work Committee, Wesley Prouse

Ex-Laurel legislator settles corruption case, will pay fine

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Kennedy

Former Montana House member Daniel Kennedy of Laurel has agreed to pay a $19,599 fine for accepting illegal campaign contributions during the Republican primary in 2010. In a settlement reached last Thursday and posted Tuesday on the Montana commissioner of political practices’ website, Kennedy said “I did not know at the time but now understand” that the package of campaign services he received came from the National Right to Work organization. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Montana, News, Art Wittich, Daniel Kennedy, Debra Bonogofsky, Gene Jarussi, Jonathan Motl

Shreds of hope on campaign finance laws

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Last week I was feeling dispirited about the propaganda flowing into Montana by way of TV ads attacking the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. This week, I feel an acorn of hope. No, I still don’t know who has been buying those ads, other than the nonhuman face of Protect America’s Consumers. And the ads are still running in abundance, hour after hour, on cable news channels in a few targeted states, including Montana. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Opinion, Art Wittich, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Gene Jarussi, John Heenan, Jonathan Motl, Kimberly Reed, Protect America's Consumers

Wittich testifies for first time in political corruption trial

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Wittich

HELENA — State Rep. Art Wittich, the man accused of accepting illegal in-kind contributions and services from conservative nonprofit groups during his 2010 Senate race, took the witness stand in his own defense Thursday in Lewis and Clark County District Court. Wittich is on trial in a civil lawsuit brought by Montana Commissioner of Political Practices Jonathan Motl, who has accused the Bozeman Republican of illegally coordinating with groups funded by the anti-union National Right to Work Committee. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: News, Art Wittich, Gene Jarussi, Jonathan Motl, Quentin Rhoades