http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/regionalpolitics/2001903889_financiers15m.htmlRepublicans say local Democrats broke campaign law
By David Postman
Seattle Times chief political reporter
In its complaint alleging an illegal Democratic fund-raising conspiracy, President Bush's campaign and the Republican National Committee single out 27 elite donors who they say knowingly broke federal campaign law.
Five of the big contributors are from the Seattle area: Costco co-founders Jeff Brotman and James Sinegal, software entrepreneur and environmental philanthropist Paul Brainerd, investor James Roush and RealNetworks founder Rob Glaser.
All have made significant contributions to so-called independent "527" organizations financing election-year media campaigns. Republicans say the groups, including MoveOn.org and America Coming Together, are illegally coordinating efforts to help Democrat John Kerry's presidential campaign.
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While disputes over campaign-finance law are common in a presidential-election year, what's unusual about the Republican complaint, filed March 31 with the Federal Election Commission, is that it targets individual donors as well as the groups.
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