Billings Rep. Jessica Karjala facing fines for campaign violations

Helena – With just weeks to go before the 2018 General Election, Billings Democrat Jessica Karjala is facing steep fines for campaign finance violations she committed during her 2016 campaign.

In April, Commissioner of Political Practices Jeff Mangan issued a 13-page ruling that found Karjala failed to properly report more than $14,000 in debts owed by her campaign and that she failed to fully disclose 47 contributions the campaign received totaling nearly $5,000.

In a separate ruling Mangan found that a political committee, Neighbors for Responsible Legislators, run by Karen Jarussi of Billings, also violated campaign finance regulations in its efforts to aid Karjala’s 2016 campaign. Jarussi recently settled with Magan’s office, admitting to the violations and agreeing to pay a fine.

Karen Jarussi is the wife of Gene Jarussi, a Billings lawyer and longtime Democrat activist. Mr Jarussi is currently serving as a Special Attorney General prosecuting cases on behalf of the Commissioner of Political Practices office. Earlier this year, 34 legislators sent a letter to Commissioner Jeff Mangan calling for Jarrui’s removal citing his activism on behalf of Democrat campaigns.

State law allows for fines of up to 3 times the amount of the violation, meaning that Karjala could be facing of over $60,000.

Karjala is running for re-election in  House District 48 against Republican Denise Johnson.

By: Politics 406 staff