Committee to Defend the President v. FEC alleges failure to act on administrative complaint (D.D.C. 1:18-cv-00888-RDM)

On April 16, 2018, the Committee to Defend the President (“Plaintiff”) filed suit against the Commission in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The Plaintiff alleges that the Commission failed to act on its administrative complaint and it seeks injunctive and declaratory relief.

Background

On December 15, 2017, the Plaintiff filed an administrative complaint with the Commission against Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic nominee for President; Hillary for America (“HFA”), her principal campaign committee; the Democratic National Committee (“DNC”); William Q. Derrough, Treasurer of the DNC; 38 state party committees; Hillary Victory Fund (“HVF”); and Elizabeth Jones, Treasurer of HVF.

The Plaintiff’s administrative complaint alleges that violations of FECA contribution and reporting requirements occurred when HVF funneled over $80 million in 2016 contributions from individuals through the state party committees to the DNC and HFA.

The Plaintiff asks the court to declare that the Commission’s failure to act on the administrative complaint is arbitrary, capricious, contrary to law, or an abuse of discretion, and order that the Commission act on the administrative complaint within 30 days.

Editor's note: On May 23, 2019, both parties filed a Joint Stipulation of Dismissal in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Resources

• Committee to Defend the President v. FEC litigation page