CREW v. FEC challenges dismissal of complaint (1:17-cv-01576)

On August 4, 2017, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and Noah Bookbinder (“Plaintiffs”) filed suit against the FEC in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Plaintiffs seek injunctive and declaratory relief under the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) and the Administrative Procedure Act.

Background

On January 8, 2013, CREW filed a complaint with the FEC regarding Sherry L. Huff, Carey Vaughn Brown, Account Pros, Inc., Credit Protection Depot, Credit Payment Services, Energy Way Corp., Republican Union PAC, and James Harmon (“respondents”) alleging that Mr. Brown or a company he owned or controlled made a $1 million contribution to the Republican Union PAC in July 2012 in the name of Ms. Huff, in violation of FECA. The complaint further alleged that Ms. Huff knowingly permitted her name to be used to make the contribution, and that the Republican Union PAC and James Harmon, its treasurer, knowingly accepted the contribution made in the wrong name. On June 6, 2017, the Commission found no reason to believe that the respondents violated FECA, and notified Plaintiffs by letter dated July 17.

Plaintiffs challenge the Commission’s dismissal of their complaint as arbitrary and capricious, an abuse of discretion, and contrary to law.

Resources:

• CREW v. FEC (17-1576) litigation page