skip navigation
Here's how you know US flag signifying that this is a United States Federal Government website

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

SSL

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Federal Election Commission | United States of America
  • Press Release

Compliance Cases Made Public

March 19, 2001

For Immediate Release
March 19, 2001

Contact:

Kelly Huff
Ron Harris
Sharon Snyder
Ian Stirton

 

COMPLIANCE CASES MADE PUBLIC

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Election Commission has recently made public its final action on six 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 4929 RESPONDENTS: (a) Knight-Ridder, Inc. (CA)
(b) ABC (American Broadcasting Company) (NY)
(c) CBS Corporation (NY)
(d) NBC (National Broadcasting Company) (NY)
(e) Dow Jones & Sons, Inc. (NY)
(f) New York Post Corporation (NY)
(g) The New York Times Co. (NY)
(h) Gannett Co., Inc. (VA)
(i) Times Mirror, Inc. [Los Angeles Times] (CA)
(j) Chronicle Publishing Co (CA)
(k) The Washington Post (DC)
(l) Fox Broadcasting Company (CA)
COMPLAINANT: Rhawn Joseph, Ph.D. (CA)
SUBJECT: Corporate contributions/news story exemption
DISPOSITION: No reason to believe*
 
2. MUR 4940		  
RESPONDENTS:		  
(a) Campaign for America (DC)
(b) Jerome Kohlberg (NY)
(c) Eileen Capone, treasurer, Campaign for America (NY)
(d) Douglas C. Berman (NJ)
COMPLAINANTS: National Republican Senatorial Committee, Steven J. Law, Executive Director
SUBJECT: Failure to file independent expenditure report with Secretary of Senate; failure to register and report; excessive contributions; exceeding $25,000 contribution limit; disclaimer
DISPOSITION: (a) No reason to believe*
(failure to file independent expenditure report with Secretary of Senate
Failed to pass a motion to find no reason to believe*
(failure to register and report; excessive contributions; disclaimer)

(b) Failed to pass a motion to find no reason to believe*
(excessive contributions; exceeding $25,000 annual contribution limit)

(c-d) Failed to pass a motion to find no reason to believe*
(any provision of the law)
 
3. MUR 5043		  
RESPONDENTS:		  
Committee to Elect Mike Burkhold to Congress, Hulic Ratteree, treasurer (SC)
COMPLAINANT: FEC Initiated (Audit)
SUBJECT: Excessive contributions
DISPOSITION: Conciliation Agreement: $ 6,000 civil penalty*
 
4. MUR 5079		  
RESPONDENTS:		  
(a) Chicago''''s Committee for ''''96, Walter K. Knorr, treasurer (IL)
(b) 1996 Democratic National Convention Committee, Inc., Andrew Tobias, treasurer (DC)
COMPLAINANT: FEC Initiated (Audit)
SUBJECT: Corporate contributions; failure to report contributions
DISPOSITION: (a-b) No reason to believe*
[re: corporate contributions; failure to report contributions]
 
5. MUR 5080		  
RESPONDENTS:		  
(a) 1996 Democratic National Convention Committee, Inc., Andrew Tobias, treasurer (DC)
(b) Democratic National Committee, Andrew Tobias, treasurer (DC)
(c) Chicago''''s Committee for ''''96, Walter K. Knorr, treasurer (IL)
(d) City of Chicago (IL)
COMPLAINANT: FEC Initiated (Audit)
SUBJECT: Failure to report contributions; corporate contributions
DISPOSITION: (a) No reason to believe*
[re: corporate contributions; failure to report contributions; exceeding expenditure limit]
Reason to believe, but took no further action*
[re: failure to report contributions]
Sent admonishment letter.

(b) Reason to believe, but took no further action*
[re: failure to report contributions]
Sent admonishment letter.

(c) No reason to believe*
[re: corporate contributions; failure to report contributions]

(d) No reason to believe*
[re: failure to report contributions]
 
6. MUR 5117		  
RESPONDENTS:		  
(a) The New York Times Company (NY)
(b) The Boston Globe (MA)
COMPLAINANT: Patrick West (VA)
SUBJECT: Corporate contributions/news story exemption
DISPOSITION: No reason to believe*

_______________
*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.

###

Read next:

FEC Cites Committees for Failure to File 12-Day Pre-Primary Financial Report

More press releases »

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.