Washington State Rep. Shaun Scott, a self-described Democratic Socialist representing Seattle’s 43rd Legislative District, has been fined once again, this time by the Washington Legislative Ethics Board, which ordered him to pay $1,000 for improper use of social media and public resources.
Scott, who was already fined over $11,000 earlier this year for campaign finance violations that included using campaign funds for haircuts, was found to have violated RCW 42.52.180, which prohibits the use of public resources for political campaigns.
EXCLUSIVE: Rep Shaun Scott, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, has been fined $1,000 for social media violations by the WA Legislative Ethics Board
Earlier this year, he was fined over $11,000 for campaign finance violations, including using money for haircuts pic.twitter.com/mg09jDWisu
— Ari Hoffman 🎗 (@thehoffather) October 22, 2025
According to documents obtained by The Ari Hoffman Show, the complaint — filed by Hoffman, a host on Talk Radio 570 KVI, alleged that Scott blocked Hoffman, and many others, on X, after being criticized for his statements supporting Antifa and pro-Hamas activists who caused more than $1 million in damage during a violent occupation of a University of Washington engineering building in May.
Rep Shaun Scott (D-Antifa) is on a blocking binge after getting called out for posting that he was going to give 'support' to Hamasniks & Antifa radicals who caused over $1 million in damage to @UW, which is in his district, during a violent antisemitic occupation of the… https://t.co/b5JoWIxDOK pic.twitter.com/zTAeUnjctD
— Ari Hoffman 🎗 (@thehoffather) May 9, 2025
Although the complaint did not initially cite a specific statute, board counsel determined the conduct fell under the state’s ethics code. The Legislative Ethics Board found that Scott’s X account, while labeled “personal,” contained official and campaign content, including legislatively produced videos and photos, which are considered state resources and cannot be used for campaign purposes.
I reached out to Rep Shaun @Scott43LD asking what kind of 'support' he plans on giving to the Antifa and pro-Hamas activists who caused over $1 million worth of damage to a building at @UW.
His office just responded: "Rep. Scott is declining to comment." https://t.co/3YZSIVWGF5
— Ari Hoffman 🎗 (@thehoffather) May 8, 2025
House counsel had previously warned Scott in May 2025 to remove the publicly funded materials and replace them with direct links to the state’s official legislative site. However, as of September 8, the board confirmed that at least one video remained, leading to the formal ethics penalty.
Under the order, Scott must pay $500 immediately, with the remaining $500 suspended if he avoids further ethics violations through September 2027.
Scott will only have to pay $500 on this violation if he has no more violations pic.twitter.com/Nf5EKJRITf
— Ari Hoffman 🎗 (@thehoffather) October 22, 2025
In a signed stipulation, Scott acknowledged wrongdoing, marking yet another official reprimand in his brief legislative career.
Earlier this year, Scott’s campaign, registered as The Fighting 43rd, was fined $10,000 by the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) for a litany of campaign violations, including:
- Filing incomplete or inaccurate financial reports,
- Failing to report debts and provide books for inspection,
- Using an assumed name for sponsor identification, and
- Omitting sponsor identification from campaign ads.
In a separate PDC ruling, Scott was fined $1,000 for the personal use of campaign funds, specifically spending $756 on haircuts at Supreme Cutz, an expense the commission determined was unrelated to campaign activity.
Scott’s ethical troubles follow his controversial record of radical statements and anti-Israel rhetoric. Earlier this year, he faced backlash for promising “support” to violent activists linked to the Hamas-aligned encampment at UW. He has also faced criticism for a history of antisemitic remarks and sympathetic statements toward rioters and far-left agitators.
With this latest ruling, the newly elected socialist lawmaker, who took office in January 2025, now carries more than $12,000 in fines for ethics and campaign law violations in less than a year.
