District Court issues opinion in Level the Playing Field, et al. v. FEC

WASHINGTON – The United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued a Memorandum Opinion and Order yesterday in Level the Playing Field, et al. v. FEC (Case 1:15-cv-01397-TSC), granting the Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment and denying the Commission’s cross-motion for summary judgment. Plaintiffs challenged the Commission’s dismissal of two administrative complaints regarding alleged violations of Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended, and FEC regulations by the Commission on Presidential Debates and other respondents and the FEC denial of a petition for a rulemaking to address the criteria used to determine who may take part in certain general-election debates. The Court ordered the Commission to reconsider Plaintiffs’ allegations and evidence, issue a new decision on the two administrative complaints within 30 days and issue a new decision on the rulemaking petition within 60 days.