An investigation by a state agency found that candidate Sarah Hewins (D-Carver) violated campaign finance laws during her 2016 bid for a seat held by incumbent Rep. Susan Williams Gifford (R-Wareham).

The state Office of Campaign and Political Finance determined that someone from Hewins’ campaign solicited donations during a “meet and greet” at the Wareham Free Library in July. Per state law, it is illegal for candidates to seek campaign donations inside buildings “occupied for state, county, or municipal purposes.”

Hewins was seeking a seat to represent the 2nd Plymouth District, which covers Carver, Wareham and Middleboro.

The matter came to the state’s attention after an unknown person recorded the meet and greet, catching someone from Hewins’ campaign on tape seeking donations.

“It is clear that, during the course of the event, an individual associated with the [Committee to Elect Sarah Hewins] initially addressed the audience by saying that ‘…obviously, this is not all that interesting, but the main thing I want to point out is…donate,’” Michael Sullivan, director of the Office of Campaign and Political Finance, wrote in a February letter.

Hewins doesn’t dispute what was on the tape. But she does reject the office’s claim that someone from her campaign was responsible.

“I don’t know who said the things referred to in the [Office of Campaign and Finance] letter,” Hewins said in a statement, adding she was unaware who sought the donations because she was being interviewed by the press at the time. “As far as I know it was not someone associated with my campaign who said these things since I did not hear any of what was said in the letter or on the tape. My campaign neither raised nor attempted to raise money at the library event.”

While the office found a violation occurred, there will not be a penalty for Hewins because no funds were collected or raised at the event. The letter it released should serve as a warning, the Office of Campaign Finance concluded.

According to the letter: “Because we believe that the guidance provided in this letter will ensure future compliance with the campaign finance law, no further action is required and this matter may be closed at this time.”

Hewins said she was pleased with that conclusion.

“I’m glad to have this behind us. We learned that we should inform attendees at these events that they should not discuss donations in a public building,” said Hewins. “We’re grateful that OCPF closed the case without further action…My goal in this campaign was to discuss issues that matter to people in our district and to have a frank and factual discussion of the candidates’ positions.”