Summary
An investigation has been requested by the Republican Party into Amanda’s campaign. At this time no verdict has been made. When the results of this investigation we will publish them.
Article
The State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) has authorized an investigation into Amanda Veneziano, the Democratic candidate for the 55th State House District, following a complaint from the Connecticut Republican Party. The complaint, filed by Ben Proto, chairman of the Republican Party, questions whether certain donors to Veneziano’s campaign actually reside within the district. The 55th District includes parts of Andover, Hebron, Marlborough, Glastonbury, and Bolton.
The complaint specifically alleges that Veneziano falsified campaign contribution information, citing four donations made by individuals, including family members, who were reportedly not living in the district at the time of their contributions. Veneziano stated that the individuals intended to move to Glastonbury within the district, but listed their future address on the forms.
While Veneziano dismissed the allegations, calling them politically motivated and without merit, the SEEC has confirmed receipt of the complaint and voted to authorize an investigation. According to Proto, if Veneziano did falsify contribution information, she could be denied a grant from the Citizen’s Election Program (CEP) and might even consider withdrawing from the race.
Veneziano, a Hebron resident, switched her party affiliation from Republican to Democrat about a year and a half ago, and is running against Republican incumbent Steve Weir. Veneziano claims the complaint is retribution for her party switch, stating that the Connecticut Republican Party is unhappy with her decision.
Despite the investigation, Veneziano remains determined to stay in the race, and said her campaign aims to follow the law. She plans to return the donations in question, though she maintains that they did not affect her qualification for the CEP grant, which she intends to apply for before the August deadline.
SEEC spokesman Joshua Foley noted that while the commission can issue fines or even criminal referrals in such cases, it cannot remove a candidate from the ballot. The investigation’s outcome could range from being dismissed to more serious consequences, depending on the findings.
Weir, who has already received his CEP grant, declined to comment on whether Veneziano should withdraw from the race but emphasized the importance of election integrity and a thorough investigation.