Ryan Walters reported $5,000 campaign donation a year late. It may cost him
State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters has finally disclosed — a year late — a $5,000 donation to his 2022 campaign from a controversial political action committee.
The 1776 Project PAC made the donation on Oct. 31, 2022. It says on its website it is "committed to abolishing critical race theory ... from the public school curriculum."
Walters was supposed to report the donation within 24 hours because it came in just days before the general election. His campaign on Friday filed a so-called "last-minute" report about the donation with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission.
The late filing may cost the Republican another $1,000. He already has been told to pay the Ethics Commission $7,800 for filing campaign reports late 14 times.
Previous Oklahoman investigation found discrepancies in Ryan Walters campaign filings
The filing Friday came two months after The Oklahoman reported he had not disclosed all his campaign donations and made mistakes on others.
The Oklahoman discovered the issues by comparing what Walters reported getting with what PACs and others reported giving.
The Walters campaign said Wednesday it "continues to focus on transparency and has taken great lengths to ensure that all campaign finance reports are accurate."
"We will continue to work with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission (and not the press) on campaign compliance.”
Walters on Friday also corrected his post-general election report to include the 1776 Project PAC donation.
He corrected his pre-general election report to include a $1,000 donation from state Rep. Mark Lepak's campaign and a $500 donation from the Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants PAC.
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Discrepancies in the financial reports still exist
However, that amended pre-general election report still lists more than a dozen donors with an "x" before the last names, a mistake that prevents accurate searches of his contributions.
He also still has not disclosed a $594.67 in-kind donation by The State Chamber PAC and a $631.71 donation from Rep. Chad Caldwell's campaign.
Walters is listed as the treasurer of his campaign. He asked the Ethics Commission in September if his campaign was currently under investigation.
Ashley Kemp, the Ethics Commission executive director, replied: "I can confirm that as of the time and date of this email there is not a Formal Investigation by the Commission into you."
Walters filed his latest campaign report Tuesday.
Through Sept. 30, he has received $747,348 in funds and in-kind contributions, according to the report.
He reported having $40,259 on hand.
Walters contested most of the late fees assessed against his campaign. An administrative hearing is set for Feb. 23.
An administrative law judge can affirm, set aside or modify the assessments. Walters can go to Oklahoma County District Court if the administrative law judge rules against him.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Ryan Walters discloses campaign donation a year late. It may cost him
