Compliance Cases Made Public
For Immediate Release: Contact: Kelly Huff
January 26, 2001 Ron Harris
Sharon Snyder
Ian Stirton
COMPLIANCE CASES MADE PUBLIC
WASHINGTON -- The Federal Election Commission has recently made public its final action
on eight matters previously under review (MURs). This release contains only summary
information. Closed files should be thoroughly read for details, including the
FEC’s legal analysis of the case. (See footnote at the end of this release.)
Closed MUR files are available in the Public Records Office.
1. MUR 4956
RESPONDENTS: (a) New Hampshire Public Television (NH)
(b)
Union Leader Corporation (MA) [Manchester Union Leader (NH)]
(c)
New England Cable News (MA)
(d)
Gore 2000, Inc., Jose Villarreal, treasurer (TN)
(e)
Bill Bradley for President, Inc., Theodore V. Wells, Jr., treasurer (NJ)
COMPLAINANTS: Patricia D. Salisbury, LaRouche’s Committee for a New Bretton
Woods (VA)
SUBJECT: Failure to use pre-established objective criteria for selection of
candidates for participation in debates/corporate contribution
DISPOSITION: (a-e) No reason to believe*
2. MUR 4962
RESPONDENTS: (a) Cable News Network (CNN) (GA)
(b)
WMUR-TV, Manchester (NH)
(c)
Gore 2000, Inc., Jose Villarreal, treasurer (TN)
(d)
Bill Bradley for President, Inc. Theodore V. Wells, Jr., treasurer (NJ)
COMPLAINANTS: Patricia D. Salisbury, LaRouche’s Committee for a New Bretton
Woods (VA)
SUBJECT: Failure to use pre-established objective criteria for selection of
candidates for participation in debates/corporate contribution
DISPOSITION: (a-d) No reason to believe*
3. MUR 4963
RESPONDENTS: (a) Los Angeles Times, Inc. [ Los Angeles Times ](CA)
(b)
Cable News Network (CNN) (GA)
(c)
Gore 2000, Inc., Jose Villarreal, treasurer (TN)
(d)
Bill Bradley for President, Inc., Theodore V. Wells, Jr., treasurer (NJ)
COMPLAINANTS: Patricia D. Salisbury, LaRouche’s Committee for a New Bretton Woods
(VA)
SUBJECT: Failure to use pre-established objective criteria for selection of
candidates for participation in debates/corporate contribution
DISPOSITION: (a-d) No reason to believe*
4. MUR 5006
RESPONDENTS: (a) CNBC, Inc. (NJ)
(b)
Chris Matthews (NJ)
(c)
Bush for President, Inc., David Herndon, treasurer (TX)
(d)
Friends of Giuliani Exploratory Committee, John H. Gross, treasurer (NY)
(e)
Republican National Committee - RNC, Alec Poitevint, treasurer (DC)
COMPLAINANT: Robert V. Brannum, MSgt, USAFR (NM)
SUBJECT: Corporate contributions; failure to provide "equal time"
DISPOSITION: (a-e) No reason to believe*
5. MUR 5027 /Pre-MUR 390
RESPONDENTS: (a) Mark Nichols (CA)
(b)
Gregorio Cervantes (CA)
COMPLAINANTS: Referral by Craig C. Donsanto, Director, Election Crimes Branch,
Public Integrity Section, U.S. Department of Justice (DC)
SUBJECT: Contributions in the names of others
DISPOSITION: (a) Conciliation Agreement: $ 56,000 civil penalty*
[knowing
and willful]
(b)
Conciliation Agreement: $ 26,000 civil penalty*
[knowing
and willful]
6. MUR 5060
RESPONDENTS: (a) VideoEye Corporation (ID)
(b)
The American Legion Magazine (IN)
COMPLAINANT: Robert S. McCurry (IN)
SUBJECT: Corporate contribution
DISPOSITION: (a-b) No reason to believe*
7. MUR 5090
RESPONDENTS:
(a) CBS Radio 880 AM (NY)
(b) Harley Carnes (NY)
COMPLAINANTS: Eli Mason (NY)
SUBJECT: Corporate contributions/news story exemption
DISPOSITION: (a-b) No reason to believe*
8. MUR 5108
RESPONDENTS: American Meat Institute - PAC, Sara Lilygren, treasurer (VA)
COMPLAINANT: FEC Initiated (RAD)
SUBJECT: Failure to file disclosure report timely
DISPOSITION: Conciliation Agreement: $ 1,080 civil penalty*
*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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