County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher at a May 26, 2022 news conference highlighting available treatment options for COVID-19 in front of the Monoclonal Antibody Regional Center in Clairemont Mesa.
His actions also raise questions about whether it’s ethical to use contributions from supporters to fend off sexual assault allegations. “I think there's a real question as to whether or not this is a legal use of campaign funds,” she said. “I think it's fair to say that this is probably not what the FPPC and those who drafted the statute intended.”
She added that using campaign funds for attorneys fees “is permissible if the litigation is directly related to activities of the committee that are consistent with its primary objectives.” If Fletcher can legally use his campaign funds to pay his legal defense bills, a law passed in 2019 adds further complexity to the situation., a candidate who uses campaign funds for lawyers in sexual assault, abuse or harassment lawsuits must repay the campaign if they are found liable. Additionally, the candidate would be prohibited from using campaign funds to pay for a penalty, judgment, or settlement. The law applies to civil, criminal and administrative proceedings.