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Maine judge to hear arguments in clean election lawsuit

Seven candidates in the Maine Clean Election program are suing Gov. Paul Lepage over his refusal to release public campaign funds.
Credit: Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla

AUBURN, Maine (AP) - A judge is set to hear arguments in a lawsuit over Republican Gov. Paul LePage's decision to hold up more than $1 million in public campaign funding.

Seven candidates in the Maine Clean Election program are suing because the governor has refused to release over $1 million in overdue public campaign funds to more than 120 legislative candidates and one gubernatorial hopeful.

Attorneys for LePage say the only the governor, not a judge, has the discretion to sign a financial order. They contend that plaintiffs failed to prove that the hold on some public campaign funds will cause "irreparable harm" to their campaigns.

A judge will hear arguments on the lawsuit seeking the release of the money on Tuesday. The ethics commission plans to hear from candidates on Wednesday.

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