Overview
- Libby ended his Republican gubernatorial bid Thursday after the state ethics panel denied him public financing, though he can appeal within seven days.
- The commission ruled only 2,870 of his 3,937 $5 donations were valid, which fell short of the 3,200 required to qualify for Clean Elections funds.
- Staff identified at least 15 fraudulent submissions by collectors, including forms signed without payment, and warned the total could exceed 100 cases.
- Reviewers also rejected many entries for missing or unsigned paperwork and for lacking proof that some donors were registered Maine voters.
- Under the Clean Election rules, campaigns must prove each donor’s voter registration and submit two signed forms for any cash gift, and errors cannot be corrected after the April 1 deadline.