The campaign for Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen has responded to a complaint filed by the executive director of the Montana Democratic Party that accuses the top law enforcement officer of campaign violations, including raising more campaign funds than allowed by law, and recruiting a primary candidate who is not qualified.

Responding to the complaint filed last week, campaign manager Jake Eaton called on Montana Commissioner of Political Practices Chris Gallus to dismiss the complaint, saying that it doesn’t mention one violation of law, and therefore the Knudsen campaign cannot respond to the allegations, which Eaton called “semi-coherent ramblings.”

“Ms. Hogan’s complaint violates the requirements of (Montana law) because the complain does not set forth a detailed description of the alleged violations, including citations to each statute and/or rule that is alleged to be violated,” the response letter said.

The Commissioner of Political Practices has yet to rule on the matter, and, as of Wednesday afternoon, was still awaiting a response from Knudsen’s primary opponent, Daniels County Attorney Logan Olson, whom Hogan also filed a complaint against.

Those complaints are similar and connected.

Hogan’s letter cites a portion of Montana law that governs donations to statewide political candidates. In her letter, Hogan asks the Commissioner to declare that Olson doesn’t meet the qualifications for running for Montana Attorney General, which requires candidates to have been practicing law for five years by Election Day.

According to his website and a records check with the University of Montana, Olson graduated from law school in 2020, although some courts have counted time in law school toward the requirement.

Hogan alleges that Knudsen started collecting campaign funds for both the primary and the general election before he had a challenger. Moreover, when Olson filed on the last day of eligibility, he wasn’t qualified, the complaint alleges.

In her complaint, Hogan asks the Commissioner of Political Practice to strike Olson’s name from the ballot and force Knudsen to return excessive funds because he was ineligible for office.

However, in his response, Knudsen’s campaign said that many Democratic candidates for office start raising money in anticipation of an opponent, as Knudsen has done.

“If the commissioner accepts Ms. Hogan’s new interpretation of 13-37-216(6), please notify me right away so I may file complaints against those candidates as well,” Eaton said in his response.

Barbecue in Dillon

Knudsen’s complaint is silent about remarks he made at a May 11 barbecue to meet candidates in Dillon. During the event, where Knudsen was featured as a guest, the attorney general told the crowd that he recruited Olson to run against in him in the primary so that he could raise more money, according to a recording obtained by the Daily Montanan.

Moreover, Knudsen said that Olson wasn’t planning on running a campaign, and said that he had recruited him so that the incumbent Republican attorney general could raise more funds, calling Montana campaign finance law “ridiculous.”

Montana law places limits on how much candidates running unopposed can raise. It also prohibits enticing another candidate to run for office for financial gain.

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AFM-Response

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) – The National Weather Service is calling for heavy, wet snow to impact areas of southwestern Montana, including several mountain passes.

I spoke to National Weather Service Meteorologist Alex Lukinbeal on Tuesday who provided details of the incoming system.

Heavy Snow is Possible in Southwest Montana into Thursday

“We have a potent Pacific low-pressure system that’s going to be moving across central Idaho down through southwest Montana,” began Lukinbeal. “It’s going to be wrapping a lot of moisture around that low pressure causing the snow levels to drop anywhere from about 4,700 feet to 5,000 feet Wednesday night into Thursday morning.”

Lukinbeal said those traveling over mountain passes in the area should be prepared for heavy snow.

“The main areas of concern for heavy snowfall are really going to set up down in southwest Montana,” he said. “That would include the I-90 corridor, anywhere from about Anaconda down through Butte. Other areas along the divide and over the mountain passes like Georgetown Lake, McDonald Pass, and Homestake Pass  are going to be seeing the brunt of the heavy snow and that’s where our confidence is increasing for at least anywhere from about six to 12 inches of snowfall.”

Georgetown Lake, McDonald, and Homestake Passes to be Affected

Lukinbeal said some areas affected could see new records set for snowfall this late in the spring.

“I also do want to mention that there is potential for snow even in the valley locations,” he said. “Places like Phillipsburg, Anaconda and Butte. There’s kind of a low threat that we could potentially be seeing five to six inches of snow in Butte. In fact, there’s a 10 percent probability that you might have the most snow in late May since 1999.”

I asked Lukinbeal how this system might affect the upcoming wildfire season.

READ MORE: Snow then 80? Sure Because It’s May in Montana

The Heavy Spring Rain will help Western Montana’s Water Levels

“The spring rains are definitely an important piece of the puzzle,” he said. “We look at fire season and the widespread nature of this precipitation is definitely going to have at least short-term impacts as far as there being areas of abnormal dryness and the drought in place. There’s potential for this system and then there’s another system showing up this weekend that’s going to be bringing another round of rain. I think the bottom line is, at least in the short term, this precipitation is going to be beneficial to help us get closer to that normal precipitation for a lot of areas throughout the year and potentially have some consequences to hopefully impact the drought.”

One aspect of the storm will be possible power outages given the heavy wet snow on trees and power lines.

Showcasing 14 distilleries from around the state, the Montana Distiller’s Festival is Friday, May 24 in Whitefish. 

Hosted by the Montana Distillers Guild the event is from 5-9 p.m. at Grouse Mountain Lodge.

The guild was formed in the fall of 2014 by a group of small-batch distillers and their supporters, dedicated to promoting this fast-growing industry representing a perfect triangle of manufacturing, agriculture and tourism. Montana distilleries use a diverse majority of Montana ag product process from traditional wheat, rye and barley to Flathead cherries, home-grown potatoes and locally harvested apples.

The festival includes Bozeman Spirits Distillery, Dry Hills Distillery, Glacier Distilling Company, Spotted Bear Spirits, Whistling Andy Distillery, Headframe Spirits, Willie’s Distillery, Undammed Spirits, Lakeside Distillery, Westslope Distillery, Portal Spirits Distillery, Crawford Distillery, Wild Rye Distillery and Montgomery Distillery.  

Attendees can expect samples of craft cocktails, spirits and light bites. VIP Tickets cost $60 and include early admission from 5-6 p.m., eight drink tickets, commemorative glassware and a Montana Whiskey 101 class. 

General admission tickets cost $45 with doors opening at 5 p.m. and include six drink tickets and commemorate glassware. 

“Fourteen distilleries from around the state in one room offers a unique experience for folks to sample the diverse range of spirits being made in Montana” said Guild Vice President and Director of Fundraising Lauren Oscilowski, with Spotted Bear Spirits.  

All proceeds go to support the Montana Distillers Guild’s legislative and marketing efforts.

Tickets are available online via the Montana Distiller’s Guild website

montanadistillers.org. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door for $50.