Olympia, Washington — Washington state Rep. Tarra Simmons (D-Bremerton) is preparing for a rare public ethics hearing next month after the state’s Legislative Ethics Board concluded there is reasonable cause to believe she violated conflict-of-interest and special privilege laws.
The allegations center on Simmons’ interactions with two nonprofit organizations, including one where she previously worked as a part-time director of strategy. Ethics investigators claim Simmons used campaign surplus funds and her influence as a lawmaker to benefit associates and nonprofit groups connected to criminal justice and education advocacy initiatives.
Simmons strongly denies wrongdoing, calling the allegations politically motivated and unsupported by evidence. Her attorney has criticized the ethics investigation as “one-sided” and filed a motion seeking dismissal of the complaint before the June hearing.
The board’s investigation focused partly on donations Simmons made from campaign surplus funds to the American Equity and Justice Group, including money tied to hiring a man investigators said Simmons personally recommended for employment. The nonprofit later returned the donations and laid off the employee after concerns about a potential conflict of interest surfaced internally.
Investigators also examined Simmons’ role in securing $1.35 million in state grant funding connected to another nonprofit where she was employed. Ethics officials are reviewing whether her legislative actions improperly benefited the organization.
Simmons, the first formerly incarcerated person elected to Washington’s Legislature, has also recently resolved a separate campaign finance complaint involving donations to a Nevada nonprofit by agreeing to pay a $300 civil penalty.
If found in violation during the June hearing, Simmons could face fines and reimbursement of investigative costs.
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