FEC CLOSES EIGHT MATTERS
WASHINGTON -- The Federal Election Commission (FEC) recently made public its final action on eight previous matters under review (MURs). In two matters, the Commission admonished the individuals and groups accused of violating the law. In two additional matters, the FEC took no further action and closed the files. In another two matters, the FEC found no reason to believe a violation occurred, and it dismissed the final two cases.
Under the law, the FEC must attempt to resolve its enforcement cases, or MURs, through a confidential investigative process that may lead to a negotiated conciliation agreement between the Commission and the individual or group. Additional information regarding MURs can be found on the FEC web site at http://www.fec.gov/em/mur.shtml.
This release contains only summary information. For additional details, please consult publicly available documents for each case in the Enforcement Query System (EQS) on the FEC web site at http://eqs.fec.gov/eqs/searcheqs.
MUR 5878 |
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RESPONDENTS: |
Arizona Democratic Party - North Carolina Account; Arizona State Democratic Central Executive Committee and Rick McGuire as its previous treasurer; Pederson 2006 and Jeff Marella as treasurer; and James "Jim" E. Pederson |
COMPLAINANTS: |
Arizona Republican Party and Glenn Hamer |
SUBJECT: |
The complaint alleged that Pederson, Pederson 2006 and the Arizona Democratic Party knowingly and willfully engaged in a scheme to circumvent and violate contribution limits established under the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 and accepted and disbursed funds in excess of the federal limits. |
OUTCOME: |
The Commission declined to find reason to believe that the Arizona State Democratic Central Executive Committee and McGuire, in his official capacity as treasurer, violated the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA/the Act). The Commission dismissed allegations against the Arizona Democratic Party – North Carolina Account, Marella, Pederson 2006 and Pederson. The Commission closed the file. |
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MUR 5958 |
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RESPONDENTS: |
Tom Davis For Congress and Mary Jane Sargent as treasurer |
COMPLAINANT: |
Richard C. Cranwell, Chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia |
SUBJECT: |
The complaint alleged that Tom Davis for Congress and Sargent, in her official capacity as treasurer, paid for communications supporting the re-election campaign of a nonfederal candidate without including the disclaimers required under the Act. |
OUTCOME: |
The Commission dismissed the matter and admonished the Tom Davis for Congress Committee and Sargent, in her official capacity as treasurer, for failing to include a disclaimer on public communications paid for with federal campaign funds. The Commission closed the file. |
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MUR 5915R |
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RESPONDENTS: |
Martinez for Senate and Nancy H. Watkins as treasurer |
COMPLAINANTS: |
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and Melanie Sloan |
SUBJECT: |
The complaint alleged that Martinez for Senate and Watkins, in her official capacity as treasurer, failed to file 48-hour notices, properly designate or reattribute contributions, disclose contributor information and provide information or itemization concerning certain disbursements on committee reports. |
OUTCOME: |
The Commission addressed these issues arising from an audit of the Martinez for Senate committee in a prior matter, MUR 5959, so it determined it would not be a prudent use of FEC resources to pursue the complaint, dismissed the matter and closed the file. |
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MUR 6012 |
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RESPONDENTS: |
Jim Risch for U.S. Senate Committee and R. John Insinger as treasurer; James E. Risch; and Risch Goss Insinger Gustavel |
COMPLAINANT: |
Richard W. Kayser |
SUBJECT: |
The complaint alleged that a number of receipts, disbursements and expenditures disclosed in the committee’s 2008 April Quarterly Report were improper, inaccurate or insufficiently documented. |
OUTCOME: |
The Commission dismissed the matter, admonished the Jim Risch for U.S. Senate Committee and Insinger, in his official capacity as treasurer, for not amending the Committee’s 2008 April Quarterly Report and closed the file. The Commission dismissed the allegations against Risch and Risch Goss Insinger Gustavel. |
MUR 6016 |
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RESPONDENTS: |
Ose for Congress and Vona L. Copp as treasurer; and Douglas A. Ose |
COMPLAINANT: |
Igor A. Birman |
SUBJECT: |
The complaint alleged that Ose, Ose for Congress and Copp, in her official capacity as treasurer, broadcast a campaign advertisement that did not include the necessary disclaimer. |
OUTCOME: |
The Commission dismissed the case. |
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MUR 5664 |
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RESPONDENTS: |
International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 53 (IUPAT District 53) and Clarence E. Mitchell, Sr., business manager/financial secretary of IUPAT District 53 |
COMPLAINANT: |
Gerald L. McMillian |
SUBJECT: |
McMillian, a long-time employee of IUPAT District 53, alleged that IUPAT District 53 violated the Act by requiring employees to conduct political activities during paid working hours and on nights and weekends and that he suffered retaliation for filing a complaint with the FEC. |
OUTCOME: |
Following an investigation, the Commission decided to take no further action and closed the file. |
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MUR 5970 |
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RESPONDENTS: |
Donna Edwards for Congress and Janice Edwards as treasurer; Donna Edwards; 1199 Service Employees International Union Federal Political Action Fund and Patrick Gaspard as treasurer; Arca Foundation; Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now (ACORN); Citizens Consulting, Inc.; Citizens Services, Inc.; Communities Voting Together; Emily’s List and Ranny Cooper as treasurer; Friends of the Earth; League of Conservation Voters, Inc.; Local 1199 NY, Service Employees International Union; SEIU 100; and They Work for US, Inc. |
COMPLAINANT: |
Lori Sherwood |
SUBJECT: |
The complaint alleged that Donna Edwards for Congress, Janice Edwards, in her official capacity as treasurer, and Donna Edwards, a congressional candidate in Maryland, accepted excessive contributions and excessive in-kind contributions through coordination with 11 nonprofit organizations. The complaint also alleged that several 501(c)(3) groups engaged in prohibited activities, and that the committee and other respondents violated reporting requirements of the Act. |
OUTCOME: |
The Commission found no reason to believe that any of the respondents violated the Act and closed the file. |
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MUR 5815 |
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RESPONDENTS: |
Madrid for Congress and Rita Longino as treasurer; State of New Mexico; and Patricia A. Madrid |
COMPLAINANT: |
Republican Party of New Mexico; Marta Kramer; and Allen E. Weh |
SUBJECT: |
The complaint alleged that Madrid, Madrid for Congress and Longino, in her official capacity as treasurer, violated the Act by accepting an in-kind contribution that exceeded contribution limits. The complaint alleged that the in-kind contribution was a coordinated
communication made by Madrid in her capacity as the New Mexico Attorney General. |
OUTCOME: |
Following an investigation, the Commission decided to take no further action against Madrid, Madrid for Congress and Longini, in her official capacity as treasurer. The FEC dismissed the complaint against the State of New Mexico. |
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, 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.
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