Mike Cooney: Law-Breaking And The Consequences

Mike Cooney, the former Lieutenant Governor of Montana, has been accused of breaking the law on several occasions. Cooney, a Democrat, was fined the maximum amount of $1,000 for violating state ethics laws by participating in a campaign-related video conference call from his state office. The Montana Republican Party filed an ethics complaint, and two other organisations filed similar formal complaints. This was the second time Cooney had violated ethics laws, having previously been fined for using official government facilities to participate in a political strategy session. Cooney has also been accused of storing campaign materials on his state-owned computer and landing a secretive taxpayer-funded job.

Using state office for campaign activities

In 2020, Mike Cooney, the then-Lieutenant Governor of Montana, was fined the maximum of $1,000 for violating state ethics laws. Cooney, who was running for governor, participated in a Democratic Governors Association (DGA) conference call on his personal laptop from his office at the Capitol on April 13. The Montana Republican Party filed an ethics complaint over the call, and two other organisations filed similar formal complaints.

The conference call was reported to the commissioner of political practices by the Montana Republican Party, who ruled that Cooney had violated state ethics laws by using his state office for campaign activities. The commissioner, Jeff Mangan, wrote that:

> "Objectively and clearly, Mr. Cooney's participation in the DGA conference call was in his capacity as a candidate for governor and his participation is susceptible of no reasonable interpretation other than support for his nomination and election."

State law in Montana prohibits public employees from using public time, facilities, or equipment for campaign purposes. Cooney's participation in the DGA conference call was deemed to be in breach of this law.

Cooney's campaign spokesperson, Ronja Abel, responded to the fine, stating that:

> "The lieutenant governor was in the office helping manage the state through the onset of the COVID pandemic. He holds himself to the highest ethical standards — and this is a small price to pay for leadership, for being on the job working with Gov. (Steve) Bullock in an unprecedented crisis."

This was not the first time Cooney had been accused of violating state ethics laws. In 2002, an ethics complaint was filed against him for storing campaign materials on his state-owned computer.

Storing campaign materials on state-owned computer

In 2002, an ethics complaint was filed against Mike Cooney, then Secretary of State of Montana, for storing campaign files on his state-owned computer. Montana state law prohibits public employees from using public resources, such as office spaces, time, or equipment, for campaign purposes. Cooney's participation in a Democratic Governors Association (DGA) conference call from his state office in April 2013 was the subject of the complaint. The DGA's website states that it is dedicated to electing Democratic governors and candidates and that it participates in campaigns by offering resources and assisting candidates in delivering their messages.

Cooney, who was running for governor at the time, stated that he joined the call on his personal laptop from his Capitol office due to a busy schedule as the state grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic. He characterised the incident as isolated. The Montana Republican Party, which filed the ethics complaint in May, claimed that Cooney was "using taxpayer resources to strategize with the out-of-state liberals that are bankrolling his campaign."

The Commissioner of Political Practices in Montana ruled that Cooney had violated state ethics laws and imposed the maximum fine of $1,000. In his decision, Commissioner Jeff Mangan wrote, "Objectively and clearly, Mr. Cooney's participation in the DGA conference call was in his capacity as a candidate for governor and his participation is susceptible of no reasonable interpretation other than support for his nomination and election."

This was not Cooney's first ethics violation. In July of the same year, the Commissioner issued a ruling that Cooney had coordinated with the DGA on a website attacking Republican nominee Greg Gianforte and had failed to disclose the costs associated with the website as an in-kind contribution. The Commissioner referred the case to the County Attorney of Lewis and Clark County after determining that Cooney had accepted an excessive contribution from the DGA.

Landing a taxpayer-funded job without public knowledge

In 2006, Mike Cooney, a Democrat from Montana, landed a secretive taxpayer-funded job. He later carried a bill to give himself a pay raise while failing to follow ethics laws requiring him to disclose his double-dipping on the taxpayer dime.

Cooney, who was serving as a state senator at the time, was appointed as the division administrator for the Montana Department of Labor in 2006. He was then appointed as the deputy director for the Montana Department of Labor and Industry in 2015, a job he held until his selection as lieutenant governor. Cooney's appointment as division administrator was not public knowledge, with an ad campaign by the RGA Right Direction PAC, an organization supported by the Republican Governors Association (RGA), stating that Cooney "used his connections to land a taxpayer-funded job that no one knew about".

In addition to the lack of transparency surrounding his appointment, Cooney also faced scrutiny for potentially violating state ethics laws. Montana state law prohibits public employees from using public time, facilities, or equipment for campaign purposes. In July 2020, Cooney was fined the maximum amount of $1,000 for participating in a campaign-related video conference call from his state office. The call was with the Democratic Governors Association, and Cooney was accused of using taxpayer resources to strategize with the organization, which was bankrolling his campaign for governor. Cooney stated that he participated in the call on his personal laptop due to a busy schedule as the state dealt with the coronavirus pandemic. However, the commissioner of political practices found that Cooney's participation in the call was clearly in his capacity as a candidate for governor.

Cooney's actions in landing a taxpayer-funded job without public knowledge and potentially violating state ethics laws contributed to a broader pattern of ethics violations throughout his career. In 2002, an ethics complaint was filed against him for storing campaign materials on his state-owned computer. Additionally, in 2007, he carried legislation to give himself a pay raise but failed to file ethics disclosure forms, indicating that he was collecting two taxpayer-funded paychecks. These incidents raised questions about Cooney's adherence to ethical standards and transparency in his public roles.

Failing to disclose double-dipping on taxpayer money

In 2006, while serving as a state senator, Mike Cooney took on a secretive, taxpayer-funded job. He then carried a bill to give himself a pay raise while failing to disclose that he was collecting two taxpayer-funded paychecks, in violation of ethics laws.

This was not the first time Cooney had been in hot water for his unethical behaviour. In 2002, an ethics complaint was filed against him for storing campaign materials on his state-owned computer when he was Secretary of State. Cooney's ethics violation in 2020 was also for politically strategizing with a D.C.-based special interest group on the taxpayer's dime.

Cooney's actions have led to accusations of greed and corruption, with the RGA Right Direction PAC, an organization supported by the Republican Governors Association, releasing ads calling him a "career politician" and stating that "he believes there's one set of rules for him, and another for everyone else." Cooney's failure to disclose his double-dipping on taxpayer money is just one example of his apparent disregard for ethical standards and the law.

Failing to disclose costs of a website attacking a political opponent

In October 2020, the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices ruled that Mike Cooney's campaign had violated Montana laws for the second time that year. The Commissioner found that Cooney's campaign had coordinated with the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) on a website attacking Republican nominee Greg Gianforte, and failed to disclose the costs associated with the website as an in-kind contribution. The Commissioner also ruled that Cooney had accepted a contribution from the DGA that exceeded the state's campaign finance limit.

The ruling stated that Cooney's participation in the DGA conference call was "susceptible of no reasonable interpretation other than support for his nomination and election". The decision was referred to the County Attorney of Lewis and Clark County for further action.

Cooney's campaign disputed the ruling, arguing that the website cost less than $35 to set up and therefore did not need to be reported as a campaign expense. However, Commissioner Jeff Mangan rejected this argument and issued a fine to the Cooney campaign.

This incident was not the first time Cooney had been accused of ethical violations during his political career. In 2002, an ethics complaint was filed against him for storing campaign materials on his state-owned computer while serving as Secretary of State. In 2006, while serving as a state senator, he was also accused of securing a secretive taxpayer-funded job and failing to disclose his compensation. These allegations contributed to a negative perception of Cooney as a "career politician" who was willing to break the rules to advance his political ambitions.

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