News Releases, Media
Advisories
For Immediate Release: Contact: Kelly Huff
April 28, 1998 Ron Harris
Sharon Snyder
Ian Stirton
WASHINGTON-The Federal Election Commission has made public its final action on six 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: (a) Michigan Democratic State Central Committee, Roger Winkleman, treasurer (MI)
(b) DNC Services Corporation/Democratic National Committee, Carol Pensky, treasurer (DC)
COMPLAINANTS: Michigan Republican State Committee, Eric E. Doster, General Counsel (MI)
SUBJECT: Failure to pay allocated costs from federal account; misreporting transfers from non-federal account to federal account; failure to accurately report allocated disbursements; excessive contributions; corporate and/or labor union contributions; failure to establish separate accounts for allocation purposes; failure to allocate shared expenses accurately; failure to use fixed percentages for allocating administrative expenses and costs of generic voter drive activity; transfers to state party committees and allocation formulas used
DISPOSITION: (a) Conciliation Agreement: $35,000 civil penalty*
File amended reports.
[re: failure to pay allocated costs from federal account; misreporting transfers from non-federal account to federal account; failure to accurately report allocated disbursements]
Reason to believe, but took no further action*
[re: excessive contributions; corporate and/or labor union contributions; failure to establish separate accounts for allocation purposes; failure to allocate shared expenses accurately]
(b) No probable cause to believe*
[re: transfers to state party committees and allocation formulas used]
RESPONDENTS:
COMPLAINANTS:
SUBJECT: Failure to use pre-established objective criteria for selection of candidates for participation in debates; corporate contributions; failure to register and report
DISPOSITION: (a-f) No reason to believe*
RESPONDENTS:
COMPLAINANTS: Perot '96, Inc., J. Michael Poss, treasurer (TX)
SUBJECT: Failure to use pre-established objective criteria for selection of candidates for participation in debates; corporate contributions; failure to register and report
DISPOSITION: (a-e) No reason to believe*
RESPONDENTS:
COMPLAINANT: United Seniors Association, Inc., Sandra L. Butler, President (VA)
SUBJECT: Corporate contribution; disclaimer
DISPOSITION: (a) Reason to believe, but took no further action*
[re: corporate contribution; disclaimer] Sent admonishment letter.
(b) Reason to believe, but took no further action*
[re: corporate contribution] Sent admonishment letter.
(c-r) No reason to believe*
[re: any provision of the law]
COMPLAINANT: FEC Initiated (RAD)
SUBJECT: Failure to file disclosure reports timely
DISPOSITION: Reason to believe, but took no further action*
COMPLAINANT: Referral by Michael D. Skinner, United States Attorney, Western District of Louisiana (LA)
SUBJECT: Use of non-federal (state) funds for federal campaign; personal funds
DISPOSITION: (a-g) No reason to believe*
*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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