Ex-Democratic State Lawmaker Clinton Collamore Admits Guilt in Breaching Maine Election Law, Sentenced to 72 Hours in Jail
Collamore pleaded guilty to 11 counts of unsworn falsification and one count of criminally violating the Maine Clean Elections Act, according to local ABC affiliate WMTW. The state dismissed 20 counts of aggravated forgery. The former Democratic lawmaker will also have to provide 100 hours of community service, CBS affiliate WGME reported.
Collamore was indicted in December 2022 after an investigation into whether he forged signatures to get taxpayer dollars for his campaign. He resigned from his Augusta seat in February after initially pleading not guilty to the charges.
Collamore said he returned more than $14,000 in Maine Clean Election Act funds and sent his salary back to state coffers. His attorney said in February that the signatures on the donation were forged, despite the donations themselves being legitimate.
“I think it’s best for the people who voted for me that I resign at this time. I’ve been taken off the committee … and I can’t be effective. And if you can’t be effective, it’s no good for the voters,” Collamore said in February.
Republican Abden Simmons was victorious in the special election Tuesday to fill Collamore’s seat.
