FEC Releases 23 Compliance Cases
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 345
RESPONDENTS: (a) Simon C. Fireman (MA)
(b) Aqua-Leisure Industries, Inc. (MA)
(c) Carol A. Nichols (MA)
COMPLAINANTS: Referral by Donald K. Stern, U.S. Attorney and Brien T. O’Connor, Assistant U.S. Attorney, United States Department of Justice (MA)
SUBJECT: Corporate contributions/contributions in the names of others
DISPOSITION: (a-c) Took no action*
2. Pre-MUR 365
RESPONDENTS: (a) Friends of Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky (PA)
(b) Mark Takano for Congress (CA)
(c) Kentucky Democratic Party (KY)
(d) West Virginia Democratic Party (WV)
(e) Pauline Kanchanalak (VA)
(f) Ban Chang International (USA), Inc. (DC/Thailand)
COMPLAINANT: Referral by Jonathan Biran, Campaign Financing Task Force, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice (DC)
SUBJECT: Foreign national contribution; corporate contribution; depositing non-federal funds in federal accounts
DISPOSITION: (a-f) Took no action*
3. MUR 4471
RESPONDENTS: (a) Montana State Democratic Central Committee, Rhonda Whiting, treasurer (MT)
(b) Friends of Max Baucus, Randall Bishop, treasurer (MT)
COMPLAINANTS: Craig M. Engle, General Counsel, National Republican Senatorial Committee (DC)
SUBJECT: Excessive contributions; failure to accurately report contributions
DISPOSITION: (a-b) No reason to believe*
4. MUR 4630
RESPONDENTS: (a) Kentucky State Democratic Central Executive Committee (Federal Account), Clay Patrick, treasurer (KY)
(b) Kentucky Democratic Party ( Non-Federal Account), Clay Patrick, treasurer (KY)
COMPLAINANTS: Republican Party of Kentucky, Catherine D. Bell, Executive Director (KY)
SUBJECT: Failure to file schedules relating to method of allocation for shared federal/non-federal costs and allocation ratios
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
5. MUR 4662
RESPONDENTS: (a) John Wertheim for Congress, Arvind A. Raichur, treasurer (NM)
(b) Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Matthew H. Angle, treasurer (DC)
COMPLAINANTS: Republican Party of New Mexico, John Dendahl, Chairman (NM)
SUBJECT: Disclaimers
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
6. MUR 4729
RESPONDENTS: Friends of Melinda Katz, Ronald A. Kaye, treasurer (NY)
COMPLAINANT: Rosemary Maldonado (NY)
SUBJECT: Failure to register and report timely; receipt of "soft money" contributions
DISPOSITION: Took no action*
7. MUR 4730
RESPONDENTS: (a) The Capital Times (WI)
(b) Tammy Baldwin for Congress, Michael Childers, treasurer (WI)
(c) Wineke for Congress, George L. Ketterer, treasurer (WI)
(d) Phelps for Congress, Scott Herrick, treasurer (WI)
COMPLAINANT: Patrick J. O’Brien (WI)
SUBJECT: Corporate contributions/failure to report contributions
DISPOSITION: (a-d) Took no action*
8. MUR 4731
RESPONDENTS: (a) Randall Terry for Congress, Muriel M. McConnon, treasurer (NY) (b) Randall A. Terry (NY)
(c) Randall Terry Live, Inc. ("RTL") (NY)
(d) Cindy Terry, President, Randall Terry Live, Inc. ("RTL") (NY)
(e) Carl Thompson (OK)
COMPLAINANTS: NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund, Martha F. Davis,
Legal Director (NY)
SUBJECT: Corporate contributions (corporate extension of credit); excessive contributions; failure to report debts
DISPOSITION: (a-e) Took no action*
9. MUR 4732
RESPONDENTS: (a) Alaska Democratic Party Federal Account, Willie Anderson, treasurer (AK)
(b) Juneau Democratic District Committee, Douglas K. Rickey, treasurer (AK)
(c) Jim Duncan for Congress, Roger Shaw, treasurer (AK)
COMPLAINANT: K. Coate (AK)
SUBJECT: Failure to register timely and report fully; use of non-federal funds for federal election; failure to use "best efforts"; disclaimer
DISPOSITION: (a-c) Took no action*
10. MUR 4733
RESPONDENTS: (a) Robert D. Kilbanks (PA)
(b) Families and Taxpayers for Bob Kilbanks, William N. Goodman, CPA, treasurer (PA)
COMPLAINANT: Charles D. Snelling (PA)
SUBJECT: Excessive contribution; failure to accurately report assets; failure to accurately report debt
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
11. MUR 4734
RESPONDENTS: (a) Dennis Newinski (MN)
(b) Dennis Newinski for Congress, Richard C. Reiner, treasurer (MN)
COMPLAINANTS: Minnesota Democratic Farmer Labor Party, Dick Senese, Chair (MN)
SUBJECT: Failure to provide contributor information; illegible report
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
12. MUR 4738
RESPONDENTS: (a) Honorable Corrine Brown (FL)
(b) Friends of Corrine Brown, Gloria Simmons, treasurer (FL)
(c) Reverend Henry J. Lyons (FL)
(d) Bernice Edwards (WI)
COMPLAINANTS: National Legal and Policy Center, Kenneth Boehm, Chairman (DC)
SUBJECT: Excessive contribution; failure to report contribution
DISPOSITION: (a-d) Took no action*
13. MUR 4739
RESPONDENTS: (a) Direct Marketing Association Political Action Committee ("DMA PAC"), RichardA. Barton, treasurer (DC)
(b) Direct Voice and its treasurer (DC)
COMPLAINANT: Russell Smith (DC)
SUBJECT: Failure to register and report
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
14. MUR 4744
RESPONDENTS: (a) Honorable James L. Hoffman, Mayor of Williams, Arizona (AZ)
(b) Brian James (AZ)
COMPLAINANT: Tony Kuc (AZ)
SUBJECT: Foreign national contribution
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
15. MUR 4745
RESPONDENTS: (a) Congressional Accountability Project ("CAP"), Gary Ruskin, Director, (DC)
(b) Paul Politis (PA)
COMPLAINANT: Doug P. Harbach (PA)
SUBJECT: Corporate contributions; failure to register and report
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
16. MUR 4746
RESPONDENTS: Phillip Cyre (SD)
COMPLAINANT: Ron Wieczorek (SD)
SUBJECT: Failure to register and report as a political committee
DISPOSITION: Took no action*
17. MUR 4747
RESPONDENTS: (a) Bozzuto’s, Inc. (CT)
(b) Michael A. Bozzuto, President, Bozzuto’s, Inc. (CT)
(c) Thomas A. Zatina, Executive Vice President/COO,
Bozzuto’s, Inc. (CT)
(d) Food Distributors Voice in Politics Committee - The Political Action Committee of Food Distributors International, Kevin Burke, treasurer (VA)
(e) Bruce Gates, Vice President Public Affairs, Food Distributors VIP Committee (VA)
(f) National - American Wholesale Grocer’s Association/
International Foodservice Distributors Association (NAWGA/ IFDA) (VA)
(g) John R. Block, President, NAWGA /IFDA (VA)
COMPLAINANT: Donald A. Zagar (CT)
SUBJECT: Failure to advise solicitees of their right to refuse to contribute without reprisal
DISPOSITION: (a-g) Took no action*
18. MUR 4751
RESPONDENTS: New Jersey Democratic State Committee, Raul "Rudy" Garcia, treasurer (NJ)
COMPLAINANT: FEC Initiated (RAD)
SUBJECT: Excessive and improper transfer of non-federal funds; excessive contributions, corporate contributions
DISPOSITION: Conciliation Agreement: $15,000 civil penalty*
Respondents to transfer $54,279.68 from federal to non-federal account
19. MUR 4765
RESPONDENTS: (a) Honorable Gary G. Miller (CA)
(b) Gary Miller for Congress, Cathleen Miller, treasurer (CA)
(c) William F. Blankenship, III (CA)
COMPLAINANT: Gregory T. Annigian (CA)
SUBJECT: Use of state staff for federal election activity; failure to report contribution
DISPOSITION: (a-c) Took no action*
20. MUR 4767
RESPONDENTS: (a) Committee to Elect Glenn Reese to Congress , Glenn Gilbert Reese, treasurer (SC)
(b) R. L. Jordan Oil Co. of NC Inc. (SC)
(c) Li’l Cricket Food Stores, Inc. (SC)
(d) Glenn G. Reese, President, W. W. Reese, Inc., dba Krispy Kreme Doughnut Company (SC)
(e) W. W. Reese, Inc., dba Krispy Kreme Doughnut Company (SC)
(f) WSPA - FM (SC)
(g) WMYI - FM (SC)
COMPLAINANT: Launeil "Neil" Sanders (SC)
SUBJECT: Corporate contributions
DISPOSITION: (a-g) Took no action*
21. MUR 4778
RESPONDENTS: (a) Rick Hill for Congress Committee, Gary Demaree, treasurer (MT)
(b) Strategic Telecommunications (a/k/a Republican National Calling Center) (MN)
COMPLAINANT: Alexander (Zander) Blewett, III, Esq. (MT)
SUBJECT: Solicitation of excessive contribution
DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*
22. MUR 4784
RESPONDENTS: (a) Rick Verticchio (IL)
(b) Verticchio for Congress, Michael P. Verticchio, treasurer (IL)
(c) Democratic Party of Christian County, Timothy E. Drea,
treasurer (IL)
(d) Democratic Party of Sangamon County, Susan I. Staley, treasurer (IL)
COMPLAINANTS: Illinois Republican Party, Bradley Goodrich, assistant treasurer (IL)
SUBJECT: Excessive contributions; receipt of impermissible funds; failure to report campaign receipts and disbursements; failure to continuously report debts
DISPOSITION: (a-d) Took no action*
23. MUR 4842/Pre-MUR 363
RESPONDENTS: Napolitano for Congress, Yolanda Dyer, treasurer (CA)
COMPLAINANT: Sua sponte
SUBJECT: Disclaimer
DISPOSITION: Reason to believe, but took no further action*
*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.
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