A Democratic candidate for Jefferson County District Judge received a single donation of $150,000 from an unidentified donor, despite attempts to verify the donor, who was not legally recognized in Alabama. It doesn't seem to be registered.

according to Main contribution report Candidate Tuante Brown's campaign finance balance, filed with the Alabama Secretary of State on February 12, is $7,441.87, thanks to a large donation from WOHRAY, INC., which is designated as a corporation or corporate donor. It jumped from $156,441.87 to $156,441.87.

The entity is not registered with the Alabama Secretary of State's Division of Business, but its contribution report lists it as headquartered at an address in Hoover, Alabama. The address is a corporate office complex, but could not be confirmed by. yellow hammer news It's like leasing any space to a company.

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When asked about his contribution, Brown said: yellow hammer news She wanted the source of the donation to be “anonymous” and that the entity was a “legitimate company.”

Despite further attempts to identify traces of WOHRAY, INC. within Alabama or elsewhere, Brown issued the following statement on February 19th:

“Unfortunately, I would like to inform you that despite our efforts, both my campaign manager and my banking institution were unable to verify the legitimacy of the donation. We will immediately mark the donation on our campaign finance report. We have followed all necessary steps and protocols in reporting, and as of today, no funds from Wohray, Inc. have been cleared to us.”

As of this posting, no amendments have been made to the Major Contributions Report, and campaign spending has continued in accordance with Mr. Brown's most recent weekly campaign report filed on February 26th.

Brown currently works as an attorney at the Jefferson County Law Office. She ran for the same position in 2018, but ultimately lost to Thomas Thrush in the Democratic primary.

Alabama's campaign finance law, the Fair Election Practices Act (FCPA), sets rules for when and how candidates can raise and spend money. The law also governs how campaign finance activities are reported. TWith respect to donations made in the name of an entity other than the one reported, the following provisions of Alabama's FCPA law apply:

“(a) It is unlawful for any person, acting for himself or herself or on behalf of any entity, to make a contribution in the name of, or knowingly authorize in the name of, another person or entity; ” name. Used to validate contributions made by one person or entity in the name of another person or entity, or by a candidate, major campaign committee, or political action committee to knowingly deny contributions made by one person or entity. used to accept. An entity in the name of another person or entity. However, nothing in this chapter applies for the purpose of making expenditures to candidates, political campaign committees, political action committees, or elected state or local officials who are required to file reports under law. , does not prohibit soliciting or receiving donations from others. Section 17-5-8.”

The Democratic primary for that seat will be held on March 5th.

Grayson Everett is the state and politics editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter. @Grayson270