Democratic Campaign Treasurer Embezzles $253K from Montana Political Groups

HELENA — A Montana campaign finance compliance consultant pleaded guilty Tuesday to three counts of wire fraud for embezzling $253,000 from political campaigns and organizations across the state over a three-year period.

Abbey Lee Cook, who operated Abbey Lee Cook and Associates LLC, admitted in federal court to fraudulently transferring money from client accounts to her own accounts between September 2021 and November 2024, according to court documents filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Montana.

Cook provided campaign compliance services to Democratic candidates and political organizations, giving her access and control to their bank accounts as part of her duties filing reports with Montana’s Commissioner of Political Practice (COPP).

“The defendant, acting without authorization, transferred money and property to accounts and entities controlled by her,” according to the federal criminal information filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno B. Baucus.

The federal case identifies six victims who lost money in Cook’s scheme:

• Victim No. 1: $88,209 (March-October 2024)
• Victim No. 2: $82,000 (September 2021-October 2024)
• Victim No. 3: $1,600 (August 2024)
• Victim No. 4: $10,150 (October 2023-June 2024)
• Victim No. 5: $53,100 (June 2023-November 2024)
• Victim No. 6: $18,000 (August 2024)

Cook was required to accurately report all financial transactions in filings with COPP but failed to do so, court documents state.

According to an investigation by the Montana Sentinel, Cook served as treasurer or deputy treasurer for numerous Democratic campaigns and organizations, including the campaigns of Ben Alke for Attorney General, Zooey Zephyr for State Representative, John Repke for State Auditor, and Jeremiah Lynch for State Supreme Court. Organizations included Planned Parenthood Association of Montana, Montana Senior Vote (formerly Big Sky 55+), Compassion for Montana Families, and Carol’s List Montana.

The Montana Sentinel reported that Cook’s financial filings followed suspicious patterns, including reports showing excessive payments to herself for services and reports with multiple amendments that could “confuse audit trails.”

According to the Montana Sentinel’s analysis of campaign finance records, Cook received $23,000 from Ben Alke’s campaign over eight months and $26,400 from Jeremiah Lynch’s campaign over the same period — amounts far exceeding typical accounting fees of $100-400 per month.

The publication also reported that Montana Senior Vote paid Cook $18,000 in a lump sum in August 2024, which was the last report she submitted before being replaced as treasurer.

In Zooey Zephyr’s campaign, the Montana Sentinel found that while the account had nearly $100,000 in summer 2023, Cook’s reports between March and October 2024 showed no financial activity despite it being campaign season, with an ongoing balance of more than $27,000.

Cook also served as treasurer for Planned Parenthood Association of Montana, where the Montana Sentinel reported investigating “suspicious activity involving the disappearance of sums reaching into six figures.”

Under the plea agreement signed August 20, Cook faces up to 20 years imprisonment and $250,000 in fines for each count. She agreed to pay $253,000 in restitution to the victims.

The plea agreement also requires Cook to waive her right to appeal and provide full financial disclosure to assist in restitution collection.

Cook’s business, Abbey Lee Cook and Associates LLC, was dissolved in 2024, according to Montana business records reviewed by the Montana Sentinel.

“All allegations are against Cook as Treasurer or Deputy Treasurer, not against any organization,” the Montana Sentinel noted in its investigation.

The case has raised broader questions about financial oversight within Montana Democratic Party circles. Jesse James Mullen, who stepped down from the Montana Democratic Party executive board last September, cited concerns about budget transparency and accountability in his resignation.

“I resigned from the Montana Democratic Party executive board recently due to a lack of detail, accountability, and internal transparency regarding the party budget and troubling comments made by paid party employees when bringing those concerns forward,” Mullen said at the time.

Following news of Cook’s guilty plea, Mullen posted on X: “Last September I stepped down from the Executive Board due to numerous red flags surrounding MTDEMs refusal to provide financial reports to its own board. Yesterday, the Party recommended campaign treasurer plead guilty to defrauding Democratic Candidates.”

Mullen added that the charges “result from a single election cycle” and involved “someone MTDEMs regularly recommends to candidates,” calling for an end to “the culture of quid pro quo hires and endorsements.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno B. Baucus. Cook was represented by defense attorney Christopher Betchie.

Cook’s sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.