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Kelly Huff
Bob Biersack
Ian Stirton
George Smaragdis
COMPLIANCE CASE MADE PUBLIC
WASHINGTON -- The Federal Election Commission has recently
made public its final action on a matter previously under review
(MUR). This release contains only disposition information.
(a) George Moretz for Congress Committee (NC/10), Roger Bowman, treasurer
(b) George A. Moretz
COMPLAINANT:
Thomas J. Strini
SUBJECT:
Excessive contributions; express advocacy (in the form of a television advertisement)
DISPOSITION:
(a-b) No reason to believe* [re: any violation of the Act]
The complainant alleged that George Moretz and his campaign committee violated the law by making an excessive contribution to President George W. Bush in the form of a television advertisement allegedly criticizing presidential nominee John Kerry. The Moretz committee’s response stated that the complaint was frivolous because North Carolina did not have a Presidential primary, and did not provide a benefit to the Bush campaign; the advertisement merely established Moretz’s endorsement of Bush’s policy in the war on terror; and there was no coordination between the Moretz Committee and anyone associated with President’s Bush’s reelection campaign. The Commission found no reason to believe that George Moretz and the Moretz Committee violated the law. Statements of Reasons were issued by Vice Chairman Toner and Commissioners Mason and Weintraub.
DOCUMENTS ON PUBLIC RECORD:
Documents from this matter are available from the Commission’s web site at http://www.fec.gov by entering 5468R under case number in the Enforcement Query System. They are also available in the FEC’s Public Records Office at 999 E St. NW in Washington.
*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.