FEC Releases 23 Compliance Cases

News Releases, Media Advisories

 

 

FEC RELEASES 23 COMPLIANCE CASES

 

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Election Commission has made public its final action on 23 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. (Please see footnote at the end of this release.) Closed MUR files are available in the Public Records Office.

 

1. Pre-MUR 360

RESPONDENTS: First National Bank of Wheaton (IL)

COMPLAINANTS: Referral by Robert B. Serino, Deputy Chief Counsel, Comptroller of the Currency, Administrator of National Banks (DC)

SUBJECT: National bank contributions

DISPOSITION: Took no action*

2. Pre-MUR 361

RESPONDENTS: (a) Teresa Isaac (KY)

(b) Teresa Isaac for Congress, Marc A. Mathews, treasurer (KY)

COMPLAINANTS: Referral by Margaret H. Kannensohn, Fayette County Attorney (KY)

SUBJECT: Failure to register and report; use of state office for federal campaign; personal use of campaign funds

DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*

3. MUR 4295

RESPONDENTS: National Medical Political Action Committee, Henry W. Williams, treasurer (DC)

COMPLAINANT: FEC Initiated (RAD)

SUBJECT: Failure to file disclosure reports timely

DISPOSITION: Probable cause to believe, litigation initiated 9/97*

Stipulation and Final Order and Judgment: May 29, 1998.

$ 10,000 civil penalty*

4. MUR 4539

RESPONDENTS:

4. MUR 4539

RESPONDENTS: (a) Honorable Tom Davis (VA)

(b) Tom Davis for Congress, Mary Jane Sargeant, treasurer (VA)

(c) Peter Sirh, Legislative Assistant to Congressman Tom Davis (VA)

(d) Sallie Mae Student Loan Marketing Association (DC)

(e) Scott Miller, Director of Government Relations, Sallie Mae

Student Loan MarketingAssociation (DC)

COMPLAINANTS: Fairfax County Democratic Committee, Mark D. Sickles, Chairman (VA)

SUBJECT: Corporate contribution; use of Congressional office for federal campaign

DISPOSITION: (a-e) Took no action*

5. MUR 4543

RESPONDENTS: (a) Friends of Maurice Hinchey, Charles Laudi, (former) treasurer (NY)

(b) Besicorp Group (NY)

(c) Michael Zinn, President, Besicorp Group (NY)

(d) Valerie Zinn (NY)

(e) Eric Zinn (NY)

(f) Andrea Zinn (NY)

(g) Anne Zinn (NY)

(h) Louanne Pauley (NY)

(i) Stephen Eisenberg (NY)

(j) Cheryl Levine (MA)

(k) Steven Levine (MA)

(l) Guy De Pietro (NY)

(m) Joyce De Pietro (NY)

(n) Michael Daley (NY)

(o) Nathan Enowitz (NY)

(p) Shirley Enowitz (NY)

(q) Martin E. Enowitz (NY)

(r) Deborah F. Enowitz (NY)

COMPLAINANT: Christian Josi (NY)

SUBJECT: Corporate contributions; contributions in the names of others

DISPOSITION: (a-r) Took no action*

6. MUR 4587

RESPONDENTS: (a) Alan Keyes for President ’96 Inc., Mary Parker Lewis, treasurer (MN)

(b) David G. Racer, Jr. (MN)

COMPLAINANT: Kristin R. Kazyak (VA)

SUBJECT: Failure to report debt; excessive contributions

DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*

7. MUR 4625

RESPONDENTS:

RESPONDENTS: (a) Clinton/Gore ’96 General Committee, Joan Pollitt, treasurer (AR)

(b) Clinton/Gore ’92 Committee, J. L. "Skip" Rutherford, treasurer

(AR)

(c) Honorable Ruben Hinojosa (TX)

(d) Ruben Hinojosa for Congress, Ray Jaquez, treasurer (TX)

(e) H & H Foods (TX)

(f) Mr. Rene Hinojosa (TX)

(g) Liborio Hinojosa (TX)

(h) Brooks County Democratic Party and its treasurer (TX)

(i) Emma Jane Johnson (TX)

(j) Brooks County Independent School District and Noe Sauceda

Superintendent (TX)

(k) La Joya Independent School District (TX)

(l) Kika de la Garza for Congress, Siglinde Franz, treasurer (TX)

COMPLAINANT: Tom Haughey, Tom Haughey for Congress (TX)

SUBJECT: Excessive contributions; corporate contributions; Hatch Act violations

DISPOSITION: (a-l) Took no action*

8. MUR 4640

RESPONDENTS: (a) AFL-CIO (DC)

(b) American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (DC)

(c) New Mexicans Accions del Pueblo Citizens Action and

Velia Silva , Executive Director (NM)

(d) Citizens Action and Nicole King (DC)

(e) Friends of Eric Serna for Congress, John Pound, treasurer (NM)

COMPLAINANTS: Republican Party of New Mexico, John Dendahl, Chairman (NM)

SUBJECT: Issue ads

DISPOSITION: (a-e) Took no action*

9. MUR 4663

RESPONDENTS: (a) Ciro D. Rodriguez for Congress, Thomas F. Adkisson, treasurer (TX)

(b) Play-Mor Hall, Fred Vega, President (TX)

(c) John Puder (TX)

(d) Dora E. Rico (TX)

(e) George W. Durazzo (TX)

COMPLAINANT: Oscar H. Flores (TX)

SUBJECT: Contribution in the name of another; failure to accurately report contributions; use of non-federal (state) funds for federal campaign; improper use of petty cash

DISPOSITION: (a-e) Took no action*

10. MUR 4666

RESPONDENTS: The Conservative Trust, S. Dennis Hoffman, treasurer (MD)

COMPLAINANT: FEC Initiated (RAD)

SUBJECT: Failure to file disclosure reports timely

DISPOSITION: Conciliation Agreement: $ 4,000 civil penalty*

11. MUR 4678

RESPONDENTS: (a) Friends for Jim McDermott, Bill Dubay, treasurer (WA)

(b) Friends of Jim McDermott, Charles M. Williams, treasurer (WA)

COMPLAINANTS: National Republican Congressional Committee, Ted Maness, Executive Director (DC)

SUBJECT: Failure to file disclosure reports timely

DISPOSITION: (a) Conciliation Agreement: $ 4,500 civil penalty*

(b) Took no action*

12. MUR 4698

RESPONDENTS: (a) Louis Bencardino (AK)

(b) Linda Murphy (AK)

COMPLAINANT: Wesley J. Jones (AK)

SUBJECT: Use of city equipment and personnel in connection with federal election

DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*

13. MUR 4699

RESPONDENTS: (a) Warren County Democratic Committee and its treasurer (NY)

(b) Saratoga County Democratic Committee and its treasurer (NY)

(c) Essex County Democratic Committee and it s treasurer (NY)

COMPLAINANTS: Lawrence A. Dudley (NY)

Margaret Farrell (NY)

Paul Kemnitzer (NY)

Richard E. and Patricia S. Dudley (NY)

David F. Cooney (NY)

SUBJECT: Excessive contributions/use of unregistered state committees

DISPOSITION: (a-c) Took no action*

14. MUR 4705

RESPONDENTS: (a) Honorable Jon D. Fox (PA)

(b) Fox for Congress Committee, Frank W. Jenkins, treasurer (PA)

(c) Bruce Toll (PA)

COMPLAINANTS: National Legal and Policy Center, Kenneth Boehm, Chairman (VA)

SUBJECT: Excessive contribution; failure to report loan

DISPOSITION: (a-c) Took no action*

15. MUR 4706

RESPONDENTS: (a) American Financial Corporation (OH)

(b) American Premier Underwriters, Inc. (OH)

(c) Chiquita Brand International, Inc. (OH)

(d) United Dairy Farmers, Inc. (OH)

(e) Great American Insurance Company (OH)

(f) Thriftway (OH)

(g) Carl H. Lindner (OH)

(h) Edith B. Lindner (OH)

(i) S. Craig Lindner (OH)

(j) Keith E. Lindner (OH)

(k) Carl H. Lindner, III (OH)

(l) Martha S. Lindner (OH)

(m) Frances R. Lindner (OH)

(n) Richard E. Lindner (OH)

(o) Robert D. Lindner, Sr. (OH)

(p) Alan B. Lindner (OH)

(q) Betty Lindner (OH)

(r) David Lindner (OH)

COMPLAINANTS: Council on Hemispheric Affairs, Larry Birns, Director (DC)

SUBJECT: Excessive contributions; exceeding the annual $ 25,000 contribution limit (1996)

DISPOSITION: (a-r) Took no action*

16. MUR 4712

RESPONDENTS: (a) Honorable Jon D. Fox (PA)

(b) Fox for Congress Committee, Frank W. Jenkins, treasurer (PA)

(c) Richard P. McBride (PA)

COMPLAINANTS: National Legal Policy Center, Kenneth Boehm, Chairman (VA)

SUBJECT: Excessive contribution; failure to report loan

DISPOSITION: (a-c) Took no action*

17. MUR 4714

RESPONDENTS:(a) Honorable Mary Jane Garcia (NM)

(b) Mary Jane Garcia for Congress Campaign, Marge Garza, treasurer (NM)

(c) Mary Gail Gwaltney (NM)

COMPLAINANT: Robert Adams (NM)

SUBJECT: Failure to register and report timely; improperly accepting contributions

DISPOSITION: (a-c) Took no action*

18. MUR 4717

RESPONDENTS: (a) National Association of Broadcasters (DC)

(b) WTSN-LP 63 (IN)

(c) WEHT-TV (IN)

(d) Cosmos Broadcasting Corporation (WFIE-TV) (IN)

COMPLAINANT: Harriet B. Kimmel (IN)

SUBJECT: Corporate contributions

DISPOSITION: (a-d) Took no action*

19. MUR 4718

RESPONDENTS: (a) Oxley for Congress, Jody O’Brien, treasurer (OH)

(b) Investment Management Political Action Committee (IMPAC), Lawrence R. Maffia, treasurer (DC)

COMPLAINANT: Wayne W. Barnett (OH)

SUBJECT: Excessive contribution

DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*

20. MUR 4723

RESPONDENT: Oscar H. Flores (TX)

COMPLAINANT: Jason Stanford (TX)

SUBJECT: Confidentiality provision

DISPOSITION: Took no action*

21. MUR 4724

RESPONDENTS: (a) Dr. Howard L. Feinberg (KY)

(b) Committee to Elect Howard Feinberg to Congress, Dr. Gail D. Feinberg, treasurer (KY)

COMPLAINANT: Sam McIntosh, Managing Partner, M C Squared Consulting (KY)

SUBJECT: Failure to accurately report debts; failure to report expenses

DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*

22. MUR 4727

RESPONDENTS: (a) Madison Magazine, Elizabeth Murphy Burns, President (WI)

(b) Joseph S. Wineke (WI)

(c) Wineke for Congress, George L. Ketterer, treasurer (WI)

(d) Richard J. Phelps (WI)

(e) Phelps for Congress, Jeneene M. Olson, treasurer (WI)

(f) Tammy Baldwin (WI)

(g) Tammy Baldwin for Congress, Kevin C. Myren, treasurer (WI)

COMPLAINANT: Patrick O’Brien (WI)

SUBJECT: Corporate contribution

DISPOSITION: (a-g) Took no action*

23. MUR 4756

RESPONDENTS:

RESPONDENTS: (a) O’Brien-Kreitzberg, Inc. (CA)

(b) P. Clay Baldwin, Executive Vice President - Eastern Division,

O’Brien-Kreitzberg, Inc. (CA)

(c) Fred C. Kreitzberg, Chief Executive Officer, O’Brien-Kreitzberg,

Inc. (CA)

(d) Pat Courtney, Controller, O’Brien-Kreitzberg, Inc. (CA)

(e) Burton L. Bruggeman, Esq. (CA)

COMPLAINANTS: Referral by Russell J. Richards, Assistant Director of Operations, Defense Contract Audit Agency (VA)

SUBJECT: Corporate contribution; contribution by federal contractor; contribution in the name of another

DISPOSITION: (a) Reason to believe, but took no further action*

[re: corporate contribution; contribution by federal contractor; contribution in the name of another]

(b-c) Reason to believe, but took no further action*

[re: corporate contribution; contribution in the name of another]

(d-e) Reason to believe, but took no further action*

[re: contribution in the name of another]

(a-e) Sent admonishment letters.

*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.