Wynn says Edwards violated campaign rules

Foundation she leads funneled money into campaign, incumbent alleges

The 134-page complaint, filed by Wynn campaign manager Lori Sherwood, accuses the Edwards campaign of receiving financial assistance from groups that she is aligned with as executive director of the Arca Foundation, a nonprofit social equity and justice organization.

Arca awarded grants to the League of Conservation Voters, which then filtered money back to the Edwards campaign, averting campaign contribution limits and violating ethical boundaries, the complaint alleges. Edwards also sits on the LCV’s Board of Directors, which endorsed her candidacy in July, despite Wynn’s high grade on the group’s congressional scorecard.

Ê‘‘The main thing the public needs to know is this is not a person that has a halo over her head, which she is trying to portray,” said Wynn (D-Dist. 4) of Mitchellville.

Edwards, who came within 3,000 votes of unseating Wynn in 2006, has criticized the eight-term incumbent of being too conservative for his district. She has also attacked Wynn for receiving more than half of his money from national corporations and political action committees.

"This is a desperate 11th hour attempt by the Congressman to deflect from the fact that groups representing the core of the Democratic party and the issues it stands for Ð worker's rights, affordable housing, protecting women's right to choose, the environment - have decided that they want to fire him and are supporting me because they know I stand with them and always have," Edwards said in a statement released by her campaign.

The complaint rehashes an exchange the two rivals had at a Nov. 29 debate, where Wynn accused Edwards of winning her endorsements through her foundation work.

‘‘Maybe they stand with her because she gives them money,” he said at the time.

Edwards shot back that the groups were longtime allies, but refuted claims that they were bought. ‘‘They stand with me because I share their values,” she said.

The complaint is the latest volley in the bare-knuckle feud between the two candidates that has included dueling endorsements and accusations of improper influence from donors.

Wynn’s campaign attorney, Bruce L. Marcus, acknowledged that the complaint will not likely be reviewed before the Feb. 12 primary, but it was important for voters to know the truth.

‘‘This is one of those things that really requires public scrutiny to be drawn to it,” Marcus said.

The complaint also raises several other questionable activities alleging Edwards has improperly used her influence with Arca to secure national allies and donations. Sherwood further contends that 1199 SEIU Federal PAC, a national labor group, did not properly identify itself as supporting Edwards in several campaign advertisements it paid for and that the head of the group’s political operation co-founded a Washington-based nonprofit entity with Edwards.

Stacey Mink, spokeswoman for SEIU Local 1199, said her group has encouraged members and other unions to support Edwards, but denied any election law violations.

‘‘We are working to get her elected as we can under the FEC guidelines,” Mink said, adding that a dozen members for the union, which represents hospital workers in Prince George’s County, have taken leave and will volunteer for Edwards leading up to Feb. 12.

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