| (a-c) No reason to believe*
[re: use of non-federal (state) funds for a federal election]
Reason to believe*
[re: improper transfer of non-federal funds to federal account]
(d) No reason to believe*
[re: violated any provision of the Act or regulations]
(e-g) No reason to believe*
[re: use of non-federal (state) funds for a federal election]
The complaints alleged that Robert Welch, a sitting Wisconsin State Senator and United States Senate candidate in 2003-2004, violated the Federal Election Campaign Act by using nonfederal funds from his state campaign account (“Citizens for Welch”) for payments made in connection with his federal candidacy. The complaints alleged that disbursements made from the state committee after the date Welch announced his federal candidacy,
for radio advertisements, fundraising and other campaign activities were
made in connection with his federal candidacy. The complaints also alleged that Welch impermissibly transferred $1,000 directly from his state campaign account to his federal account and that a state campaign committee salary payment to the candidate’s wife was used to fund a subsequent contribution to the federal committee. The Commission found there was no reason to believe that disbursements made by the state committee were for the candidate’s federal election. The Commission, however, did find reason to believe two transfers of $1,000 each from the state committee to the federal committee were impermissible but due to the amount involved and recognizing that the committee refunded the money, the Commission decided to take no further action and send an admonishment letter. The Commission found there was no reason to believe Jeanne Welch violated the law with regard to the contribution she made to her husband’s campaign. |
