District court issues opinion in Stop Hillary PAC, et al. v. FEC

WASHINGTON – The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia Alexandria Division issued its Memorandum Opinion and Order in Stop Hillary PAC et al. v. FEC (Case 1:15-cv-01208-GBL-IDD) yesterday, denying the plaintiffs Stop Hillary PAC's and Dan Backer's motion for a preliminary injunction. Plaintiffs' lawsuit challenges a provision of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended, and a corresponding Commission regulation that prohibit a political committee that is not authorized by any candidate from using a candidate’s name in the registered name of the committee.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent regulatory agency that administers and enforces federal campaign finance laws. The FEC has jurisdiction over the financing of campaigns for the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, the Presidency and the Vice Presidency. Established in 1975, the FEC is composed of six Commissioners who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.