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Federal Election Commission | United States of America

FEC v. Savage for Congress '82

Summary

Background

On June 8, 1984, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois entered a default judgment against Gus Savage for Congress '82, the principal campaign committee of Congressman Gus Savage (D-IL), and Thomas J. Savage, the campaign's treasurer. The Savage campaign had failed to answer the FEC's suit against the campaign (FEC v. Gus Savage for Congress '82 Committee; Civil Action No. 84-C1076; January 6, 1984).

Court order

Pursuant to the FEC's petition for a declaratory judgment, the court ordered the Savage campaign to file, within 30 days, the following reports required by the election law:

  • The July and October quarterly reports, the pre- and post-general election reports and the year-end report required during the 1982 election year (see 2 U.S.C. §434(a)(2)(A)(i)-(ii); and
  • The mid-year report required during the 1983 nonelection year (see U.S.C. §434(a)(2)(B)(i)).

The court further ordered the Savage campaign to file all reports due in the future and assessed a $5,000 civil penalty against the campaign.

Denial of contempt petition

On April 12, 1985, the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, denied the Commission's petition to hold in civil and criminal contempt Gus Savage for Congress '82 (the Committee), the principal campaign committee for Congressman Gus Savage's 1982 reelection campaign, and Thomas Savage, the Committee's treasurer. The court found that, after the Commission's filing of the contempt petition, the Committee had brought itself into compliance with a default judgment entered against it on June 8, 1984. The Committee had filed the reports required by the default judgment and had established a satisfactory schedule for repaying the $5,000 civil penalty imposed by the default judgment.

Source:   FEC Record — June 1985; July 1984. FEC v. Gus Savage for Congress '82 Committee, 606 F. Supp. 541, (D. Ill. 1985).

This information is not intended to replace the law or to change its meaning, nor does this information create or confer any rights for or on any person or bind the Federal Election Commission or the public.

The reader is encouraged also to consult the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (52 U.S.C. 30101 et seq.), Commission regulations (Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations), Commission advisory opinions and applicable court decisions.