OLYMPIA — A political corruption trial for Mukilteo initiative promoter Tim Eyman has been pushed back to Jan. 27, 2020, in Thurston County.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson has accused Eyman of secretly moving funds between two initiative campaigns in 2012 and receiving $308,000 in kickbacks from the firm that collected signatures for both measures.
Ferguson filed a lawsuit in March 2017 seeking $1.8 million in penalties plus reimbursement of the funds Eyman received from the firm.
Eyman has denied wrongdoing.
When the year began, the trial was slated to take place next month. But in late September, Superior Court Judge James Dixon issued an amended schedule with the 2020 trial date.
In the meantime, the Attorney General’s Office continues to seek a slew of financial records from Eyman. Since February, Eyman has been in contempt and racked up daily fines for not handing over the records.
“We’ve always known this would be a lengthy case, made more lengthy by Mr. Eyman’s refusal to comply with court orders,” Ferguson spokesman Dan Jackson wrote in an email. “Ultimately, we are confident we will recover every dollar the state spends. Moreover, Mr. Eyman will pay a significant penalty.”
The state Public Disclosure Commission, which requested Ferguson’s involvement, paid $487,399 in legal fees for the Eyman case in the last fiscal year.
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@herald net.com. Twitter: @dospueblos.
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