The race for governor in Washington, which has become increasingly acrimonious over the past few weeks, has taken a dramatic twist, as Republican candidate Dino Rossi was forced to give a deposition Wednesday concerning a lawsuit alleging illegal fundraising.
 The lawsuit alleges that Rossi coordinated campaign fundraising with the Building Industry Association of Washington, meaning that the trade group should be held to state limits on direct campaign contributions of $3,200 rather than the millions of dollars it has spent backing Rossi.
Faith Ireland and Robert Utter, two former state Supreme Court justices who have donated to Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire's re-election campaign, filed the lawsuit.
Rossi is not a party to the suit but was subpoenaed to testify as a witness.
"Christine Gregoire and her friends were willing to do absolutely anything in 2004 to get the job, and I guarantee you they will be willing to say and do anything to keep the job," Rossi said Monday after the deposition was ordered. "This is just more evidence of it."
The lawsuit cites phone calls Rossi made in 2007 to BIAW members and a BIAW luncheon where he made a presentation. B both occurred when the BIAW was seeking contributions for this year's election. State law bars a candidate from coordinating with an independent campaign group.
Rossi contends that the phone calls were before he announced his candidacy. He told reporters that political spending was discussed, but that he did not make any specific mention of where the group should spend its money.
"This is nothing more than a phony complaint by Christine Gregoire's operatives," Rossi said after the deposition. "She is desperate, it is really sad."
Attorneys Mike Withey and Knoll Lowney, who are representing Ireland and Utter, maintained Rossi knew the BIAW was raising money for his possible candidacy, which would qualify him as a candidate under state law.
"If a committee is raising money on your behalf with your knowledge, then you are a candidate, whether you have declared or not, otherwise it makes a mockery of the Public Disclosure Law," Withey said at the deposition.
Proceedings at the deposition were very heated, filled with "raised voices, stare-downs, threats to call a judge, accusations of defamation, orders not to lean across a table and profanity," according to the Seattle Times.
Outside of the closed-door session, polls show the two candidates either essentially tied or with Gov. Gregoire holding a slight lead, which is how it's been for most of the race.
-- By Tom LeGro, Online NewsHour
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