Toronto's compliance audit committee has voted to begin legal proceedings against former Toronto councillor Giorgio Mammoliti after an audit found that he potentially violated campaign finance laws during the 2023 mayoral byelection.
According to meeting notes, Toronto’s compliance audit committee made the unanimous decision on Friday, and agreed that it was “in the public interest” to begin proceedings.
When reached by TorontoToday on Saturday, Mammoliti was defiant.
”Olivia Chow and her woke goon of councillors are alive and well,” said Mammoliti in a statement. “Going after a guy who lost in the election is as low as it gets. I must be a threat to them. If they can’t kill my message, they come after me personally.”
The audit of his campaign, conducted by Delta Consulting Group, said Mammoliti committed four potential breaches of the Municipal Elections Act in relation to his mayoral bid in the 2023 byelection, where Mammoliti came in 13th place.
The auditors said that Mammoliti contributed $60,646.57 to his own campaign, exceeding the limit of $25,000; failed to file audited financial statements despite the deadline being extended; contributed $4,900 in cash to his campaign, above the $25 limit on cash contributions; and made payments of approximately $15,000 for campaign expenses from his personal Visa card without getting reimbursement.
The compliance audit committee agreed to order the audit earlier this year, after a request by Toronto resident Kevin Wiener.
Mammoliti has previously told TorontoToday that his failure to file audited statements was due to an inability to find an auditor.
Mammoliti has also faced similar accusations in relation to previous elections.
In 2014, he paid back over $17,000 after pleading guilty to campaign overspending. The same year, Toronto council docked him three months' pay for improper fundraising at an event in Woodbridge.
Mammoliti is now seeking contributions to his legal expenses.
The former councillor confirmed with TorontoToday that he is the owner of a GiveSendGo fundraiser called “Supporting Giorgio Mammoliti,” which is seeking $100,000.
“I need your help financially, the political attacks on me over the last few years have taken a tole [sic] on me. It has been hard to cover the costs of my legal/professional expenses on my own,” reads the fundraiser description.
“The woke movement will not stop coming after me, no matter how many times I beat them at their own game.”
The fundraiser currently stands at $0.
