LOS ANGELES : FPPC Fines Marathon Firm $236,000 for Donations

The state Fair Political Practices Commission approved a $236,250 fine Thursday against the operators of the Los Angeles Marathon for laundering campaign donations to 14 political candidates, most of whom were running for the Los Angeles City Council.

The action follows the city Ethics Commission’s approval Tuesday of a similar settlement that included a $200,000 fine. Together, the penalties represent the third-largest political ethics fine in U.S. history, FPPC Chairman Ben Davidian said.

Although several city ethics commissioners had criticized marathon President William Burke and said they believed he knew about the money laundering scheme, the state commissioners were silent on that issue.

The marathon has already paid the Ethics Commission fine in cash, but it will pay the FPPC in installments over several years. “They were able to prove they are not financially able at this time to meet the total fine,” FPPC spokeswoman Jeanette Turvill said.