LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A complaint has been filed against the porn industry-funded anti-Prop. 60 campaign alleging it failed to properly report $75,000 in contributions from seven interconnected businesses led by a firm based in the United Kingdom.
The complaint against Eric Paul Leue, the head of the coalition of porn companies fighting Prop. 60, was filed with the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission by Whitney Engeran-Cordova, a public health advocate.
Engeran-Cordova is a supporter of Prop. 60, a measure on the Nov. 8 ballot that seeks to strengthen the enforcement of an existing rule requiring porn performers to wear condoms to protect themselves, their partners and the wider community from sexually transmitted diseases.
In a sworn complaint, Engeran-Cordova alleged the seven companies made seven separate contributions to the anti-Prop. 60 campaign totaling $75,000. All contributions were made on Sept. 2. All the companies have ties to Global Personals, LLC, which business records show is based in the UK, and all are involved in the adult entertainment industry. Six of the seven companies also failed to report their contributions in a timely manner required by law.
It is illegal for foreign companies to contribute to U.S. political campaigns.
In 2015 the state Fair Political Practices Commission fined a similar campaign committee $61,500 in part for taking money from foreign companies. That committee was opposed to Measure B, a proposal eventually approved by voters, to require condoms in porn films produced in Los Angeles County.
“Here they go again,” said Rick Taylor, chief strategist for the Yes on Prop. 60 campaign. “This looks a lot like what we saw happen in 2012. We strongly urge the FPPC to immediately investigate this current situation so voters will know who’s really behind the financing of our opponent’s campaign before they cast their ballots.”
Paid for by Yes on Prop 60, For Adult Industry Responsibility (FAIR) committee, with major funding by AIDS Healthcare Foundation