Montana’s attorney general, Austin Knudsen, recently admitted to supporters that he recruited a token Republican candidate to run against him in the upcoming primary election so that he could raise more money for the general election. In a recording from a fundraising event in Dillon, Knudsen explained that he asked Logan Olson to run against him in order to exploit campaign finance laws. However, Knudsen is facing numerous allegations of professional misconduct as he seeks re-election for a second term, which adds controversy to his campaign tactics.
Olson, a county attorney from rural northeastern Montana, denied being recruited by Knudsen, but campaign finance records suggest otherwise. The state’s Commissioner of Political Practices is currently investigating complaints filed by the Montana Democratic Party, alleging an agreement between Knudsen and Olson that could potentially violate state campaign finance laws. The complaints argue that Olson is not a legitimate candidate and was essentially recruited as a pawn in Knudsen’s fundraising strategy.
The complaints further allege that Knudsen began raising donations exceeding the legal limit long before Olson filed to run, indicating a potential violation of campaign finance laws. Knudsen’s senior campaign adviser, Jake Eaton, dismissed the complaints as frivolous, claiming that it is common practice for candidates to accept contributions for both primary and general elections. However, the investigation continues, with both Knudsen and Olson given until May 23 to respond to the allegations.
Knudsen’s controversial actions don’t stop with the recruitment of a token candidate. He is also facing 41 counts of professional misconduct over allegations that his office attempted to undermine the Montana Supreme Court while defending a challenge to a state law regarding judicial nominations. Additionally, his handling of a case involving concealed carry weapons charges and threats made during the pandemic has raised concerns. Most recently, Knudsen was accused of sending a Highway Patrol trooper to intervene in a hospital dispute over a COVID-19 patient’s treatment with ivermectin.
Amidst these controversies, Knudsen’s Democratic opponent, Ben Alke, a Bozeman attorney, is running on a platform that highlights Knudsen’s misconduct allegations and questionable actions. Alke’s campaign finance reports show adherence to legal limits, contrasting Knudsen’s questionable fundraising tactics. With the Commissioner of Political Practices investigating the complaints against Knudsen and Olson, the Montana attorney general race is shaping up to be a contentious and closely watched contest leading up to the November general election. As the investigation unfolds, the outcome could significantly impact the state’s political landscape and the prospects for accountability in the attorney general’s office.
