Republican Leadership, Senate candidate Alan Olsen Make Illegal Robo-calls

Senate Democrats file complaint with Department of Justice in attempt to stop illegal robo-calls

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Senate Democratic Leadership Fund (SDLF) today filed a letter of complaint with the Oregon Department of Justice in an attempt to stop illegal automated phone calls made into Senate District 20 on behalf of Republican State Senate candidate Alan Olsen.

Several residents who are registered on the Federal Do Not Call registry reported receiving the calls Sunday August 8th.

“Campaigns can get messy, but we all have to play by the rules and respect the rights of voters,” said Senate Majority Leader Richard Devlin. “We will not tolerate flagrant disregard of the law.”

Oregon law prohibits making telephone calls using "automatic dialing and announcing devices" ("robocalls") to numbers listed in the federal Do Not Call Registry. ORS 646A.372(2)(c). The fine for each violation is $5,000. ORS 646A.376. Violations of the robocall statue are also prohibited under the Unfair Trade Practices Act. ORS 646A.376; ORS 646.632.

“The fact is that the Oregon GOP and Senate Republican Leadership have been warned before not to harass voters who have registered on the Do Not Call list,” said Ben Unger, Executive Director of the SDLF. “They are knowingly breaking the law. That’s why the maximum fine needs to be imposed to send a clear message that election violations are unacceptable.”

On Monday, alert voters made the SDLF aware of the illegal robocalls being made into Senate District 20.  The party responsible for the calls is unknown, but they were made on behalf of Senate candidate Alan Olsen.  The calls were negative in nature, and they apparently attacked State Senator Martha Schrader.  The SDLF has not received a copy of the recording.

Molly Woon

(503) 367-4327

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