News Releases, Media
Advisories
For Immediate Release: Contact: Kelly Huff
January 23, 1998 Ron Harris
Sharon Snyder
Ian Stirton
WASHINGTON-The Federal Election Commission has made public its final action on 26 matters previously under review (MURs). This release contains only summary information. Closed files should be thoroughly read for details, including the FEC's legal analysis of the case. (Please see footnote at the end of this release.) Closed MUR files are available in the Public Records Office.
RESPONDENTS: Joseph DeMio (OH)
COMPLAINANT: Sua sponte
SUBJECT: Corporate contributions; contributions in the names of others
DISPOSITION: Took no action*
RESPONDENTS:
COMPLAINANT: Paul Esparza (IL)
SUBJECT: Corporate contributions
DISPOSITION: (a-j) Took no action*
RESPONDENTS: (a) Tom Fricano for Congress, Edward F. McKee, treasurer (NY)
(b) International Union, United Automobile , Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of American (UAW) (MI)
COMPLAINANT: Maria Cino, (former) Executive Director, National Republican Congressional Committee (DC)
SUBJECT: Union contribution; disclaimer
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
RESPONDENTS:
COMPLAINANT: Joseph Wright, Campaign Manager, Nalepa '96 (IL)
SUBJECT: Corporate contributions; personal use of campaign funds
DISPOSITION: (a-i) Took no action*
RESPONDENTS:
COMPLAINANT: Vollie V. Bisnett (CA)SUBJECT: Misuse of public funds; union contributions
DISPOSITION: (a-c) Took no action*
RESPONDENTS:
COMPLAINANT: Herb Rosenberg (NY)
SUBJECT: Filing false disclosure reports
DISPOSITION: (a-e) Took no action*
RESPONDENTS:
COMPLAINANT: Honorable Patsy T. Mink (HI)
SUBJECT: Unsecured bank loans
DISPOSITION: (a-c) Took no action*
RESPONDENTS:
treasurer (PA)
COMPLAINANT: Patricia S. Degen (Germany/PA)
SUBJECT: Distribution of voting materials
DISPOSITION: (a-c) Took no action*
RESPONDENTS:
COMPLAINANT: Matthew H. Angle, Executive Director, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DC)
SUBJECT: Corporate contribution; failure to report contribution and disbursement
DISPOSITION: (a-c) Took no action*
RESPONDENTS: (a) James Lamar Wiggins (GA)
(b) Jim Wiggins for Congress, H.E. Hardin, treasurer (GA)
COMPLAINANT: Maria Cino, (former) Executive Director, National Republican Congressional Committee (DC)
SUBJECT: Personal use of campaign funds
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
RESPONDENTS: (a) Vargas for Congress '96, Deanna Liebergot, treasurer (CA)
(b) San Diego Police Officers Association, Inc. (CA)
COMPLAINANT: Honorable Bob Filner (CA)
SUBJECT: Excessive contribution/corporate contribution
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
RESPONDENTS: (a) Teresa Doggett (TX)
(b) Teresa Doggett for Congress, Alan Sager, treasurer (TX)
COMPLAINANT: Lisa B. Friel (VA)
SUBJECT: Failure to report debt
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
RESPONDENTS: (a) Catholic Democrats for Christian Values, Benjamin Venti, President (CA)
(b) Anthony Venti Realtors and Anthony Venti, Owner (CA)
COMPLAINANT: Craig Athon, Vice President, Alhambra Democratic Club (CA)
SUBJECT: Failure to register and report
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
RESPONDENTS:
COMPLAINANT: Thomas E. Hall (CT)
SUBJECT: Failure to use pre-established objective criteria for selection of candidates for participation in debates
DISPOSITION: (a-e) Took no action*
RESPONDENTS: (a) Gutknecht for U.S. Congress Committee, Dr. David Byer, treasurer (MN)
(b) John Wade (MN)
COMPLAINANTS: Monica Shelby and Judy Blaseg (DC)
Shelby/Blaseg, Inc. (DC)
SUBJECT: Failure to report debt
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
RESPONDENTS: (a) Honorable Janice D. Schakowsky (IL)
(b) Schakowsky for Congress Exploratory Committee, Larry Suffredin, treasurer (IL)
COMPLAINANT: Bill Colwyn (IL)
SUBJECT: Failure to file reports timely
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
RESPONDENTS:
COMPLAINANT: Joseph M. Romagnano, Jr. (AL)
SUBJECT: Union contributions
DISPOSITION: (a-f) Took no action*
RESPONDENTS: (a) Charles H. Dettman (WI)
(b) Chuck Dettman for Congress, Douglas R. Dahl, treasurer (WI)
COMPLAINANTS: Michael P. Maxwell, The Merit Group, Inc. (WI)
Mark Gungor, Gungor Productions, Inc. (WI)
SUBJECT: Failure to report and pay debts
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
RESPONDENTS: (a) Andrew R. Larson (MN)
(b) Andy Larson for Congress Committee, Susan L. Coen, treasurer (MN)
COMPLAINANT: Robert J. Ferderer (MN)
SUBJECT: Failure to report debt
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
RESPONDENTS:
COMPLAINANT: Thomas M. Hollenbeck, DMD (PA)
SUBJECT: Excessive contributions
DISPOSITION: (a-c) Took no action*
RESPONDENTS:
COMPLAINANT: Shirley Bianchi (CA)
SUBJECT: Foreign national contributions
DISPOSITION: (a-g) Took no action*
RESPONDENTS: (a) Jay Robert Pritzker (IL)
(b) Pritzker for Congress, Lizette W. Bohn, treasurer (IL)
COMPLAINANT: Dean La Prairie (IL)
SUBJECT: Failure to file Statement of Candidacy and disclosure reports
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
RESPONDENTS: Carroll for Congress Committee, Michael C. Dorf, treasurer (IL)
COMPLAINANT: Sara Schwarz (IL)
SUBJECT: Disclaimer
DISPOSITION: Took no action*
RESPONDENTS:
COMPLAINANT: Leroy J. Pletten (MI)
SUBJECT: Foreign national contributions
DISPOSITION: (a-d) Took no action*
RESPONDENTS: Buchanan for President, Angela M. "Bay" Buchanan, treasurer (VA)
COMPLAINANT: Zbigniew Maeiszewski (VA)
SUBJECT: Failure to report contribution
DISPOSITION: Took no action*
RESPONDENTS: Democratic Party of Oklahoma, Debbie Hogue-Downing, treasurer (OK) COMPLAINANT: FEC Initiated (RAD)
SUBJECT: Failure to file disclosure reports timely
DISPOSITION: Conciliation Agreement: $2,600 civil penalty*
*There are four administrative stages to the FEC enforcement process:
1. Receipt of proper complaint 3. "Probable cause" stage
2. "Reason to believe" stage 4. Conciliation stage
It requires the votes of at least four of the six Commissioners to take any action. The FEC can close a case at any point after reviewing a complaint. If a violation is found and conciliation cannot be reached, then the FEC can institute a civil court action against a respondent.
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