Friends of Anthony Brown, a campaign committee that fundraises for Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, reported a campaign-related transaction late Wednesday night in its annual campaign finance filing, showing an interaction between the nonprofit Attorney General Alliance and Brown’s campaign, which an adversary claims may have been illegal or unethical.

The campaign reported a $46.50 transaction from Oct. 30, 2024, under “Other Receipts and In-Kind Contributions” form, but wouldn’t comment on what the transaction meant.

The conservative watchdog group American Accountability Foundation (AAF) claimed in a Jan. 7 letter to the state election board and state ethics commission that Brown violated state campaign finance and ethics laws by obtaining a list of AGA’s partners to be used for a Brown campaign fundraiser.

A fundraiser for Brown was scheduled to be held Jan. 6 at the Harold Black restaurant in Annapolis, with ticket prices for the “presession2025” event ranging from $500 to $2,500. The event was later canceled because of a winter snowstorm.

Neither Brown’s office nor the campaign would comment on the details behind the Oct. 30 transaction.

Yitz Friedman, a spokesperson for the American Accountability Foundation, said the contribution shows that “a nonprofit that is required to stay out of reelection campaigns clearly violated the law. They made a donation from an exempt organization’s assets to a political campaign. That is explicitly prohibited under federal law. The IRS should open an examination and look at revoking their exempt status.”

He added: “The fact that a group that represents states’ highest law enforcement officers — all of whom are responsible for enforcing charitable laws — knowingly violated their nonprofit status is even more shocking. A group representing AGs should live up to a higher standard.

“Anthony Brown should be thoroughly [investigated] by the state board of elections and the ethics commission for colluding with a non-profit group to violate federal laws and regulations.”

Jared DeMarinis, the state administrator of elections confirmed, receipt of the AAF complaint, but DeMarinis would not comment on a potential investigation of the allegations. State Ethics Commission Jennifer Allgair also declined to comment, stating the office does not confirm or deny active investigations.

Lawmakers were mum in Annapolis Thursday when asked to comment on the complaint.

If DeMarinis believes a probable violation may have occurred, he would forward the complaint to state prosecutor who could choose to investigate, according to a former state election official.

Contact Glynis Kazanjian at gkazanjian@baltsun.com.