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Federal Election Commission | United States of America
  • Press Release

Compliance Case Made Public

December 14, 2004

HOME / PRESS OFFICE

For Immediate Release
December 14, 2004		 Contact: 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 (MURs). This release contains only disposition information.

1.

MUR 5409

 

 

 

 

 

RESPONDENTS:

(a)   Grover Norquist

(b)   Americans for Tax Reform, Inc.

(c) Ken Mehlman

(d) Bush-Cheney ''''04, David Herndon, treasurer

 

COMPLAINANT:

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

 

SUBJECT:

Corporate contributions, failure to report contributions, excessive contributions

 

DISPOSITION:

(a-d)   Reason to believe, but took no further action*

  [re: corporate contribution]

(d) Reason to believe, but took no further action*

[re: failure to report contribution]

(a,d) No reason to believe*

[re: excessive contribution]

 

  The complaint alleged that Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, Inc., gave a "master contact list" of conservative activists in 37 states to Ken Mehlman, campaign Manager of Bush-Cheney ''''04. The list, the complaint alleged, constituted an impermissible corporate contribution from ATR or an excessive contribution from Grover Norquist. The Commission found reason to believe that Grover Norquist, ATR, Bush-Cheney ''''04 and Ken Mehlman violated the corporate contribution ban. However, in light of the apparently small value of the materials provided by Grover Norquist and ATR to Bush-Cheney ''''04, the Commission used its prosecutorial discretion and took no further action and closed the file.

 

DOCUMENTS ON PUBLIC RECORD:

Documents from this matter are available from the Commission''''s web site at http://eqs.sdrdc.com/eqs/searcheqs by entering 5409 under case number. They are also available in the FECs 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.

# # #

 

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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.