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Fred Karger, the California man who filed the original campaign finance complaint in 2009 against the National Organization for Marriage, is raising new questions with the Maine ethics commission.

Last week, Karger asked the commission to look into allegations that the Douglas and Maria DeVos Foundation of Ada, Michigan, gave $500,000 to NOM in 2009 that was not reported as a contribution.

"It is impossible for us to determine if the DeVos contribution was used to pass Question 1 in Maine, but through the subpoena power of the Maine State Attorney General's office, the exact date of the donation and where the $500,000 ended up might prove helpful to the investigation," Karger wrote.

All along, NOM has argued that it simply transferred funds from its general fund when it contributed nearly $2 million to the fight against gay marriage. Karger has disputed that, saying the group solicited funds specifically for the campaign, and therefore, the sources of the funds should have been disclosed.

The issue is still pending in state and federal courts. Ethics officials said Monday that they'll look into the new allegations, but that the information doesn't change their investigation.

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Open Season targets all of Maine's political wildlife, from Portland city government to the donkeys, elephants and independents stalking the Statehouse and U.S. Capitol.

John Richardson joined the Press Herald in 1990 after working as a reporter in New Jersey. He has covered a variety of beats, including marine issues, the environment and health care. He is now covering politics and focusing on Maine's U.S. Senate race.
John can be reached at 791-6324 or jrichardson@pressherald.com
On Twitter: @jrichmaine

Colin Woodard has covered politics and elections for more than two decades, from Bosnia and Bucharest to Washington, D.C., Augusta, and Portland City Hall. He has written for a wide range of national and international publications and is the author of four books, including "American Nations," a history of North America's regional cultures. He joined the Portland Press Herald at the end of April and covers political finance and lobbying, among other things.
Colin can be reached at 791-6317 or cwoodard@pressherald.com

Susan Cover has covered Maine politics for 10 years and worked in Kansas, Ohio and Rhode Island as a reporter. This year, she is focusing on covering the same-sex marriage debate for MaineToday Media.
Susan can be reached at 621-5643 or scover@mainetoday.com

Michael Shepherd joined MaineToday Media in May 2012 after graduating from the University of Maine in Orono, where he edited The Maine Campus, the student newspaper there. Until November he'll be writing the Truth Test, a recurring feature analyzing political statements and advertising.
Michael can be reached at 621-5632 or mshepherd@mainetoday.com

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