Rep. Mile Miller settles in campaign finance case

HELENA — A Republican state lawmaker has agreed to pay a $4,000 fine and not run for public officer for four years to settle a lawsuit that accuses him of breaking campaign finance laws.

The agreement with Rep. Mike Miller of Helmville was filed in District Court in Helena on Friday.

Commissioner of Political Practices Jonathan Motl filed a civil action against Miller and eight other Republican legislative candidates stemming from the 2010 primary election campaign. Motl says the candidates coordinated with and took illegal corporate contributions from the conservative group Western Tradition Partnership.

Miller said he disagreed with Motl, but settled because he didn't want to continue to pay attorney's fees.

Rep. Art Wittich of Bozeman is the only other currently elected official among the nine. A Helena judge has set a February 2016 trial date in his case.