Campaign Legal Center v. FEC alleges failure to act on complaint (20-1778)

On June 30, 2020, the Campaign Legal Center (plaintiff) filed suit against the FEC in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia (the court). The plaintiff seeks injunctive and declaratory relief under the Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act).

Background

According to the court complaint, on December 19, 2019, plaintiff filed an administrative complaint with the FEC, alleging that Iowa Values, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, violated the Act by failing to register as a political committee and failing to report its contributions, expenditures, and debts as part of an "election-long effort" to support Iowa Senator Joni Ernst. Plaintiff claims that a leaked fundraising email and strategy memo demonstrate the "major purpose" of Iowa Values as campaign activity. Plaintiff alleges that fact, combined with the group’s calendar year contributions/expenditures exceeding $1,000, would require Iowa Values to register and report to the FEC.

The plaintiff requests that the court declare that the FEC has acted contrary to law by failing to act on the administrative complaint, and that the court order the FEC to conform with that declaration within 30 days.

Resources

• Campaign Legal Center v. FEC (20-1778) litigation page