skip navigation
Here's how you know US flag signifying that this is a United States Federal Government website

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

SSL

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Federal Election Commission | United States of America

MUR #6661

ROBERT E. MURRAY, ETAL

Summary

RESPONDENTS: Murray, Robert E.; Murray Energy Corporation; Murray Energy Corporation PAC; Ruble, Michael G.

COMPLAINANTS: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW); Sloan, Melanie

SUBJECT: Contributions-Prohibited; Contributions-National Bank; Contributions-Labor Unions; Contributions-In the name of another; Contributions-Corporations

DISPOSITION: The Commission failed by a vote of 3-3 to: a. Find reason to believe that Robert E. Murray and Murray Energy Corporation violated 52 U.S.C. §§ 30118(a) and 11 C.F.R. § 114.2(f) by coercing Murray Energy employees to make contributions to federal candidates and participate in fundraising activities supporting federal candidates. b. Find reason to believe that Murray Energy Corporation PAC and Michael G. Ruble in his official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30118(b)(3)(A) and 11 C.F.R. § 114.5(a)(1). c. Find reason to believe that Murray Energy Corporation violated 52 U.S.C. §§ 30122 and 30118 by reimbursing employee contributions with corporate funds.d. Direct the Office of General Counsel to draft a Factual and Legal Analysis consistent with that finding. e. Authorize an investigation, including the use of compulsory process as necessary. f. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission failed by a vote of 3-3 to: a. Find reason to believe that Robert E. Murray and Murray Energy Corporation violated 52 U.S.C. §§ 30118(a) and 11 C.F.R. §§ 114.2(f) by coercing Murray Energy employees to make contributions to federal candidates and participate in fundraising activities supporting federal candidates. b. Find reason to believe that Murray Energy Corporation PAC and Michael G. Ruble in his official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. §§ 30118(b)(3)(A) and 11 C.F.R. §§ 114.5(a)(1). c. Take no action at this time as to whether any of the respondents violated 52 U.S.C. §§ 30122 or 30118 by reimbursing employee contributions with corporate funds. d. Approve the Factual and Legal Analysis, as recommended in the First General Counsel's Report dated February 1, 2016. e. Authorize an investigation, including the use of compulsory process as necessary. f. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission decided by a vote of 5-1 to: a. Close the file. b. Send the appropriate letters.

Disposition

Disposition Penalty Respondent Citation
Dismissed-Other Murray Energy Corporation 52 U.S.C. §30118(a)
11 CFR 114.2(f)
Murray Energy Corporation PAC 52 U.S.C. §30118(b)(3)(A)
11 CFR 114.5(a)(1)
Murray, Robert E. 52 U.S.C. §30118(a)
11 CFR 114.2(f)
Ruble, Michael G. 52 U.S.C. §30118(b)(3)(A)
11 CFR 114.5(a)(1)

Documents

Type Date Document
Complaint, Responses, Designation of Counsel and Extensions of Time 11/18/2015 Addendum to Complaint 323 KB
11/17/2014 Response from Robert E. Murray, Murray Energy Corporation, and Murray Energy Corporation PAC 388 KB
11/13/2014 Grant of Extension of Time to Robert E. Murray, Murray Energy Corporation, and Murray Energy Corporation PAC 53 KB
11/11/2014 Request for Extension of Time from Robert E. Murray, Murray Energy Corporation, and Murray Energy Corporation PAC 44 KB
09/16/2014 Addendum to Complaint 695 KB
04/03/2013 Response from Murray Energy Corporation, Robert E. Murray, and Murray Energy Corporation PAC 928 KB
10/15/2012 Grant of Extension of Time to Robert E. Murray, Murray Energy Corporation, and Murray Energy Corporation PAC 11 KB
10/15/2012 Request for Extension of Time from Robert E. Murray, Murray Energy Corporation, and Murray Energy Corporation PAC 42 KB
10/15/2012 Designation of Counsel from Murray Energy Corporation, Murray Energy Political Action Committee, and Robert Murray 126 KB
10/12/2012 Addendum to Complaint 35 KB
10/05/2012 Complaint 573 KB
General Counsel Reports, Briefs, Notifications and Responses 04/21/2016 Notification to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington 41 KB
04/21/2016 Notification to Robert E. Murray, Murray Energy Corporation, and Murray Energy Corporation PAC and Michael G. Ruble in his official capacity as treasurer 38 KB
02/01/2016 First General Counsel's Report 907 KB
Certifications 04/12/2016 Robert E. Murray; Murray Energy Corporation; Murray Energy Corporation PAC and Michael G. Ruble in his official capacity as treasurer 72 KB
Statement of Reasons 06/02/2016 Chairman Matthew S. Petersen and Commissioners Caroline C. Hunter and Lee E. Goodman 1 MB
05/20/2016 Vice Chairman Steven T. Walther, Commissioner Ann M. Ravel, and Commissioner Ellen L. Weintraub 400 KB

Participants

Relationship Name
Primary respondent Murray, Robert E.
Previous respondent Murray Energy Corporation
Murray Energy Corporation PAC
Ruble, Michael G.
Complainant Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)
Sloan, Melanie
Top of page