AUGUSTA – State Reps. Janet Mills of Farmington and Thomas Saviello of Wilton have been investigated for accepting $25 and $50 contributions from two lobbyists while the Legislature was in session in March.

While both lawmakers said this week that they “screwed up,” the head of the panel investigating said he is recommending that no penalties be levied.

The two Democrats, who are seeking re-election Nov. 2, received $25 contributions from attorney Michael Gentile on March 8. Saviello accepted $50 from attorney William Taylor on March 11, according to The Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices.

Mills and Saviello were investigated by the commission because they accepted the money while the Legislature was in session from Jan. 7 to March 15, a violation of state law. The law is designed to prevent lawmakers from taking money from lobbyists while they are voting on issues in which lobbyists may have an interest.

Jonathan Wayne, executive director of the commission, said Thursday that he is recommending no penalties “in light of the fact of the small amounts, and that they appear to be acting in good faith.”

The commission found no other violations when it examined lobbyists’ contributions to State House members, Wayne said Wednesday.

The commission tabled both cases Wednesday and plans to take them up next month.

“I screwed up,” Mills said Wednesday. “But it wasn’t intentional.”

In a telephone interview Thursday, Mills said, “There’s nothing going on except a discussion regarding whether this is even an issue.”

She said she is at odds with it being called an investigation saying it is unclear whether the law refers to clean election candidates.

“I wouldn’t intentionally take any money from lobbyists,” she continued. “I don’t like the appearance of it, whether it falls under the statute or not.”

Mills described Gentile as a friend of 25 years who has never lobbied her on any issue. She said he served as probate judge when she was district attorney for Franklin, Oxford and Androscoggin counties.

“He’s been to my house for Easter dinner,” she said Thursday.

Saviello said in an interview Wednesday that he has known the two attorneys for 13 years and considers them friends.

“These are my friends,” he said. “I didn’t think or know that they were lobbyists.”

Gentile has been a lobbyist for the town of Jay, where Saviello lives. They have been on opposing sides of the same issue in the town, the lawmaker said.

Saviello said he should have known the law.

“Guidelines are guidelines and you have to read the law,” he said. “I screwed up.”

He also said he was willing to return the money if that would rectify the situation, but Wayne recommended that he wait until the commission takes up the issue again next month.

Gentile said Wednesday that he has been friends with both lawmakers for many years and he rarely lobbies the Legislature, so the issue raised by the ethics commission is “much ado about nothing.”

Taylor could not be reached for comment Wednesday or Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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