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News Releases, Media Advisories

For Immediate Release:                                  Contact:  Kelly Huff
May 22, 1998                                                      Ron Harris
                                                                  Sharon Snyder
                                                                  Ian Stirton

FEC RELEASES FOUR COMPLIANCE CASES

WASHINGTON-The Federal Election Commission has made public its final action on four 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.

1. MUR 4617

RESPONDENTS: (a) Mike Espy (MS)

(b) Mike Espy for Congress and its treasurer (MS)

COMPLAINANTS: FEC Initiated (OGC)

SUBJECT: Personal use of campaign funds

DISPOSITION:

(a-b) Conciliation Agreement: $50,000 civil penalty*
$10,000 will be derived from Mike Espy's personal funds
$40,000 will be derived from Espy for Congress campaign

2. MUR 4674

RESPONDENTS: New Jersey Democratic State Committee, Raul "Rudy" Garcia, treasurer (NJ)

COMPLAINANTS: Public Interest Law Center of New Jersey, Renee Steinhagen, Executive Director (NJ)

SUBJECT: Failure to file separate Schedule h3 in 1996 for shared generic voter expenses

DISPOSITION: Reason to believe, but took no further action*

Sent admonishment letter.

3. MUR 4692

RESPONDENTS: Political Committee for Growth, Kelly Forsberg, treasurer (NY)

COMPLAINANTS: FEC Initiated (RAD)

SUBJECT: Failure to file disclosure reports timely

DISPOSITION: Conciliation Agreement: $2,500 civil penalty*

4. MUR 4709

RESPONDENTS: Democratic County Executive Committee of Philadelphia, Norman Loudenslager, treasurer (PA)

COMPLAINANTS: FEC Initiated (RAD)

SUBJECT: Use of non-federal funds to pay for federal share of allocated activity; transfer in from non-federal account to federal account outside established time period; transfer in of non-federal funds to federal account to pay for 100% non-federal activity

DISPOSITION: Conciliation Agreement: $24,000 civil penalty*

Respondents will refund $9,876 from federal account to non-federal account in several payments
Respondents will provide evidence of each transfer payment

*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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