Complaint Opinion 19-13

Date: 03/25/2020
Number: 2019 – No. 13
Topic: Use of public resources to assist a campaign
Respondent: House Democratic Caucus
Question/Complaint: Is it a violation of RCW 42.52.180 to include on the official caucus Twitter account a list that linked to unofficial Twitter accounts, some of which contained campaign material?
Summary: Yes. Official social media accounts are “facilities of an agency” under RCW 42.52.180 and linking to unofficial social media accounts that contain campaign material is a violation. Reasonable cause found. Complaint dismissed under per RCW 42.52.425 because link was immediately removed when complaint filed.
Document: ETHICSCOM2019.13 (PDF 1.01 Megabytes)