Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson asked a court Monday to grant summary judgment and penalties for the Grocery Manufacturers Association in a suit stemming from the group’s campaign against GMO labeling.
GMA, a Washington D.C.-based trade association, was the largest donor to the “No on 522” campaign, which sought to block genetic labeling requirements in 2013. Ferguson sued GMA in October 2013, claiming that the group had intentionally skirted state campaign-finance laws by not naming the companies which donated $11 million to the campaign. Initiative 522 lost by 2.2 points, and was followed by another failed labeling referendum in Oregon in 2014.
“The allegations constitute the largest political funding concealment case in state history,” according to a statement from the Attorney General’s office. GMA placed the donated funds in a “Defense of Brands” account where donor identities were hidden. After the Attorney General filed suit, GMA registered with the state’s public disclosure agreement and revealed that PepsiCo had given $1.6 million, both Nestle and Coca-Cola had donated more than $1 million, and General Mills had put in over $500,000.
If charged, GMA may be required by the court to pay an amount equal to the amount not reported. If the court decides that GMA was aware of its crime, that penalty amount could be tripled. GMA has requested that the Judge dismiss the case and has filed a Motion to Seal certain documents used in the suit. The Attorney General’s office has asked that all documents be made public, “in the interest of open justice.”