SD 48: Probable Cause Found in Jungbauer Campaign Finance Case

Republican State Senator Michael Jungbauer came under criticism earlier this month when members of his district (Senate District 48) found discrepencies in his pre-primary campaign finance report. A complaint was filed with the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board (CFB) alleging that Jungbauer accepted a corporate contribution in the amount of $600, and alleging that his expenditures may have been utilized for personal uses. The Minnesota Monitor first reported on the possible violations at the beginning of September.

Before the case is sent to the CFB, probable cause to believe Jungbauer has violated the law needs to be found by a judge, meaning that the evidence points to a reasonable belief that a crime has been committed. On Friday, Administrative Law Judge Barbara Nielson ruled “that there is probable cause to believe that the Respondent violated Minnesota Statutes 211B.12 and 211B.15.