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  • Press Release

Compliance Cases Made Public

January 13, 2005

For Immediate Release
January 13, 2005
Contact: Kelly Huff
Bob Biersack
Ian Stirton
George Smaragdis
COMPLIANCE CASES MADE PUBLIC
 

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Election Commission has recently made public its final action on a two matters previously under review (MURs). This release contains only disposition information.

1. MUR 5262/5266  
     
  RESPONDENTS:

(a)   Tim Ryan for Congress, Michael Fraioli, treasurer   [5262/5266]

(b)   Tim Ryan

(c)   Dennis Rossi [5266]

(d)   Second National Bank [5266]

(e)   Mahoning County Democratic Party and its treasurer   [5266]
  COMPLAINANT:

Donald L. Walter [5262]

Randy D. Walter [5266]
  SUBJECT: Excessive contributions; exceeding the annual $25,000 contribution limit; bank loan made outside the ordinary course of business; prohibited contribution; failure to disclose disbursements for rent
  DISPOSITION:

(a-b)   Conciliation Agreement: $6,000 civil penalty*

  The complaints alleged that Tim Ryan for congress   accepted an excessive contribution of $50,000 in   violation of the Act. The source of this contribution was the candidate and a cosigner for a bank loan and the   loan was obtained at a reduced interest rate. The complaints further alleged the committee and its treasurer accepted a $2,500 contribution from the Mahoning County Democratic Party and the source of   the funds was a labor union and the committee failed to pay rent for its headquarters. The Commission found that Mr. Ryan accepted an excessive contribution in the form of a cosigned bank loan. The Commission found no reason to believe Second National Bank and the Mahoning County Democratic Party violated the law.

(b)   No reason to believe*

  [re: prohibited contributions; failure to disclose disbursements for rent]

(c)   Conciliation Agreement: $4,000 civil penalty*

  [re: excessive contribution; exceeding the annual $25,000 contribution limit]

(d)   No reason to believe*

  [re: bank loan made outside the ordinary course of   business]

(e)   No reason to believe*

  [re: prohibited contribution]
  DOCUMENTS ON PUBLIC RECORD:

Documents from these matters are available from the Commission''''s web site at http://eqs.sdrdc.com/eqs/searcheqs by entering 5262 under case number. They are also available in the FECs Public Records Office at 999 E St. NW in Washington.

     
2. MUR 5278  
     
  RESPONDENTS:

(a)   Honorable J. Phillip Gingrey

(b)   Girngrey for Congress, Robert T. Morgan, treasurer

(c)   Gingrey for State Senate, Phyllis G. Collins, treasurer

(d)   Honorable Jeff Mullis

(e)   Jeff Mullis Victory Account and it treasurer

(f)   Honorable Judith H. Manning

(g)   Committee to Elect Judy Manning, Margaret H. Barnett,   treasurer

(h)   Russell K. Paul

(i)   Rusty Paul for State Senate and its treasurer
  COMPLAINANT:

Mario C. Jauregui

  SUBJECT: Use of non-federal (state) funds for a federal election; excessive and prohibited funds; failure to accurately report contributions; misreporting disbursements; failure to report other disbursements; disclaimer; contributions in the name of another
  DISPOSITION:

(a-c)   Conciliation Agreement: $1,800 civil penalty*  

  The Commission found that the respondents made and   received prohibited contributions and impermissible   transfers, failed to report the true source of $3,500 in   contributions received from the state committee,   misreported $12,000 in disbursements for state   expenses as disbursements for federal expenses, failed   to report telephone expenses made in connection with   the federal election in 2001, and failed to include a   complete disclaimer on the official website.

  Took no action*  [re: contributions in the name of another]

(d-i)   Took no action*
  DOCUMENTS ON PUBLIC RECORD:

Documents from these matters are available from the Commission''''s web site at http://eqs.sdrdc.com/eqs/searcheqs by entering 5278 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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