This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.
Former California Assemblymember Evan Low used his technology-focused nonprofit to pay actor Alec Baldwin more than $227,000 to appear at a tech event and a separate fundraiser for Low, then deliberately tried to conceal the payments, the California Fair Political Practices Commission determined in a filing released Friday.
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The agency charged with enforcing California’s campaign finance laws charged Low with 18 violations, including failing to report the payments on time and poor recordkeeping. As part of a settlement with the agency, Low and his political committee have agreed to pay a $106,000 fine.
Low, his attorney Amber Maltbie and an attorney representing the tech nonprofit did not respond to a request for comment on the allegations from CalMatters.
Low initially told investigators that Baldwin came to his Feb. 7, 2020, fundraiser on his “own accord” as a volunteer. But the commission cited numerous messages between organizers seeking to conceal the nonprofit’s payments to Baldwin in draft contracts.
The allegations were included in a scathing report released Friday by the agency in charge of enforcing the state’s campaign finance and ethics laws. It found that Low also missed the deadline to disclose almost $228,000 he raised for various nonprofits, failed to keep track of campaign transactions and illegally shut down his campaign account without repaying the nonprofit fees for Baldwin’s appearance.
Probe sparked by CalMatters reporting
The proposed penalty stems from a five-year FPPC investigation into Low and the nonprofit he founded, The Foundation for California’s Technology and Innovation Economy. The probe began the same day CalMatters published its third installment of its “Sweet Charity” series detailing the relationship between Low and the group.
The findings show a “knowing and willing attempt to skirt the law,” said Sean McMorris of California Common Cause, an ethics watchdog group. “I think the public at a minimum will feel deceived and likely that impropriety occurred.”
Low has agreed to the settlement, paid off the Baldwin-related expenses and disclosed those payments to settle the case, according to the agency.
Low, who co-founded and co-chaired the state Legislature’s tech caucus, raised money from tech giants for the foundation — a nonprofit overseen by three people closely affiliated with him. His then-chief of staff Gina Frisby served as its treasurer.
The foundation hosted annual policy summits where tech leaders and lobbyists paid five figures to privately mingle with state officials.
In 2020, Baldwin appeared at the tech policy summit in Cupertino for a lunchtime visit, CalMatters reported.
Later that night, Baldwin was shuttled in a luxury vehicle to a Chinese restaurant in the heart of San Jose’s Little Saigon as the “special celebrity guest” for Low’s ticketed fundraiser, which doubled as his Lunar New Year celebration, according to FPPC findings and a Facebook page of the event.
“For the Year of the Rat, expect big surprises and a big name,” reads the description of Low’s fundraiser. “Trust me, you won’t want to miss out on this special ‘presidential-esque’ event!”
Baldwin had a recurring appearance playing President Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live at the time.
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