County GOP makes donations in close state races

The Crook County Republican Party announced on Monday that it will be sending a total of $30,000 to statewide candidates in tight races and to the WY Freedom PAC.

The money being used for these donations mainly comes from a previous $25,000 donation to the WY Freedom PAC during the primaries, which was later returned over concerns over its legality.

According to the party, the donations are all about the Republican Party’s platform and the desire to see people elected who intend to uphold it.

The political action committee to whom part of the donation is headed is affiliated with the Freedom Caucus.

In a press release, the party states that the decision reaffirms, “the county’s role in supporting individuals committed to the Wyoming Republican Party Platform in the General Election and the WY Freedom PAC. This decision follows a previous $25,000 donation to WY Freedom PAC that was returned, amplifying

the will of the people to support the Wyoming Republican Platform and those who are willing to do the same.”

The $25,000 donation was made on June 11 and returned in August after Senate President Ogden Driskill made a complaint to the Wyoming Secretary of State Elections Division.

In his complaint, Driskill pointed to a state statue he described as “very clear in its intent”. W.S. 22-25-104 mandates that political party funds cannot be used to aid the nomination of one person against another person of the same political party in a primary election.

The WY Freedom PAC later announced it was returning the donation. Kari Drost, PAC chair, wrote that “multiple sitting legislators have encouraged the Attorney General to take their Party to court over a mangled interpretation of Wyoming law” and the donation would therefore be returned to protect the local party.

“At its recent meeting, the Crook County Republican Party voted to leverage the returned funds by contributing $2000 each to ten candidates in close state races. In addition, $10,000 was donated to the WY Freedom PAC,” states Monday’s press release.

The ten candidates set to receive support include Jacob Wasserburger (HD 11), Shane Swett (HD 13), Joe Giustozzi (HD 14), Ken Pedergraft (HD 29), Sarah Penn (HD 33), Gary Brown (HD 41), Paul Crouch (HD 45), Ocean Andrew (HD 46), Marlene Brady (HD 60) and John Kolb (SD 12).

“The Crook County Republican Party continues to stand by its mission of promoting candidates in the General Election within the county and across the state who are dedicated to upholding the Wyoming Republican Party Platform and preserving values important to residents,” states the press release.