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Complaint filed against house speaker over reimbursements

Speaker Sara Gideon and her leadership PAC are accused of 'blatantly, deliberately, and repeatedly' violating provisions of state and federal laws.

AUGUSTA, Maine — An ethics complaint has been filed against Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon for allowing her leadership political action committee to reimburse her for political donations in 2015 and 2016.

Former Republican state Sen. Ed Youngblood, of Brewer, filed the state and federal complaints on Thursday against Gideon. He contends Gideon, a Democrat, and her leadership PAC "blatantly, deliberately, and repeatedly" violated provisions of state and federal laws.

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Gideon is seeking her party's nomination to run against Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Her campaign blamed the errors earlier this month on "incorrect guidance." Her spokeswoman tells the Bangor Daily News the incident is being turned into "a partisan attack."

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Youngblood said it's possible that Gideon was misled by advisers but said "the fact remains that she broke the law."

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