Fort Worth

Davis Docked for Not Disclosing Ties to Law, Lobbying Firm

The Texas Ethics Commission has assessed a $5,000 civil penalty to former Democratic gubernatorial nominee Wendy Davis for not disclosing her interest in a law firm and a lobbying firm from which she receives fees.

The Ethics Commission complaint also accused Davis of not disclosing the fees she received from the Newby Davis law firm and the Cantey Hanger law and lobbying firm.

The complaints centered on omissions in the former Fort Worth state senator's personal finance statements for 2011 and 2012.

In agreeing to the penalty released May 1, Davis neither admitted to nor denied the allegations but only agreed to resolve the complaints.

"While I disagree with the TEC's decision and believe I acted with full transparency, I respect the ruling and consider the matter closed," Davis said in a statement to the San Antonio Express-News.

She followed the agreed order with a letter to the commission that argued commissioners were wrong in their application of ethics rules, the Express-News reported. Her attorney, Renea Hicks, also filed a letter with the commission saying it had misapplied disclosure laws to punish Davis.

The Fort Worth Democrat attained national prominence in 2013 when she mounted a nearly 13-hour filibuster in the state Senate over new Texas abortion restrictions. Her run last year for governor failed as she fell to Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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