Democrat’s Facebook ‘like’ a focus of GOP ethics allegations

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - The Maine GOP is alleging a Democratic candidate’s Facebook ’like’ suggests illegal collusion with an out-of-state super PAC.

But the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices on Wednesday declined to investigate a progressive group that wants candidate Jonathan Fulford to beat Republican Senate President Michael Thibodeau. The California-based group’s Progressive Maine PAC reported plans to spend $50,000 to hire organizers to train volunteers in Fulford’s district.

The Maine Republican Party sent commissioners a screenshot of a Facebook post about Progressive Maine’s hiring plans that Fulford’s Facebook account liked.

Commissioners called Progressive Maine’s spending unusual but lawful, and said a Facebook like isn’t evidence of coordination.

Three of five commissioners also said the GOP’s allegations didn’t support investigating whether Progressive Maine failed to report independent expenditures to support Fulford.