OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — A Thurston County Superior Court judge has ruled that anti-tax initiative promoter Tim Eyman could potentially be punished with a lifetime ban on managing or directing the finances of a political committee.

Judge James Dixon ruled Friday in connection with Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s long-running lawsuit against Eyman claiming that Eyman violated state campaign-finance laws and covertly used his initiative drives to enrich himself.

Eyman had filed a motion to have the potential punishment thrown out, arguing that it would be an unconstitutional infringement on his First Amendment right to speech. He said the possibility of such a ban was having a chilling effect on his ability to fund ballot initiatives.

In his decision, Dixon denied Eyman’s request to have it thrown out, adding that he wouldn’t decide on any punishment until the actual facts of the case were settled.