FEC Releases 24 Compliance Cases

News Releases, Media Advisories

FEC RELEASES 24 COMPLIANCE CASES

WASHINGTON-The Federal Election Commission has made public its final action on 22 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 343

RESPONDENTS: National Republican Senatorial Committee, Craig M. Engle, General Counsel (DC)

COMPLAINANT: Sua sponte

SUBJECT: Failure to file 24-hour reports timely

DISPOSITION: Took no action*

2. Pre-MUR 347

RESPONDENTS: (a) Producers Lloyds Insurance Company (TX)

(b) Blakely Crop Hail, Inc. (KS)

COMPLAINANTS: Referral by Martin J. Fitzgerald, Associate General Counsel, United States General Accounting Office (DC)

SUBJECT: Corporate contributions; contributions in the name of another

DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*

3. Pre-MUR 349

RESPONDENTS: Barry Cregan, Chief Executive Officer, Trump Plaza Hotel

and Casino (NJ)

COMPLAINANT: Referral by Frank Catania, Director, Division of Gaming Enforcement, State of New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety (NJ)

SUBJECT: Corporate contributions/corporate solicitation/corporate facilitation

DISPOSITION: Took no action*

4. Pre-MUR 350

RESPONDENTS: Citibank, N. A. (NY)

COMPLAINANT: Sua sponte

SUBJECT: National bank contribution

DISPOSITION: Took no action*

5. Pre-MUR 355

RESPONDENTS: Feingold Senate Committee, Reuben Damm, treasurer (WI)

COMPLAINANT: Sua sponte

SUBJECT: Disclaimer

DISPOSITION: Took no action*

6. MUR 4435

RESPONDENTS: (a) Georgianna Lincoln (AK)

(b) Lincoln for Congress, Margaret E. Lape, (former) treasurer (AK)

COMPLAINANT: Justin Stiefel (AK)

SUBJECT: Disclaimers; failure to demonstrate "best efforts" for contributor information

DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*

7. MUR 4444

RESPONDENTS: (a) Roberts for Congress, Kaye Roberts, treasurer (OK)

(b) Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (OK)

COMPLAINANT: Maria Cino, (former) Executive Director, National Republican Congressional Committee (DC)

SUBJECT: Excessive contribution

DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*

8. MUR 4445

RESPONDENTS:

(a) Honorable Randy Tate (WA)

(b) Randy Tate for Congress Committee, Kevin L. Shannon, treasurer (WA)

(c) John Carlson (WA)

(d) KVI-AM, J. Shannon Sweatte, General Manager (WA)

(e) Fisher Broadcasting Inc. (WA)

COMPLAINANTS: Washington Citizen Action, David West, Executive Director (WA)

SUBJECT: Corporate contribution; disclaimer

DISPOSITION: (a-e) Took no action*

9. MUR 4449

RESPONDENTS:

(a) President William J. Clinton (DC)

(b) The White House (DC)

(c) The Clinton Administration (DC)

(d) DNC Services Corporation/Democratic National Committee, Carol Pensky, treasurer (DC)

(e) U.S. Department of Commerce (DC)

COMPLAINANTS: Larry Klayman, Chairman, Judicial Watch (DC)

SUBJECT: Sale of government services for campaign contributions

DISPOSITION: (a-e) Took no action*

10. MUR 4453

RESPONDENTS:

(a) Honorable Mike Ward (KY)

(b) Mike Ward for Congress Committee, William Carl Fust, treasurer (KY)

(c) Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee, Stephen G. Horner, treasurer (KY)

(d) W. Allen Priest (KY)

(e) Donna L. Heitzman (KY)

COMPLAINANTS: Maria Cino, (former) Executive Director, National Republican Congressional Committee (DC)

SUBJECT: Excessive contribution; failure to file Statement of Candidacy timely; improper redesignation of PAC contributions

DISPOSITION: (a-e) Took no action*

11. MUR 4477

RESPONDENTS:

(a) Dole/Kemp ''''96, Inc., Robert E. Lighthizer, treasurer (DC)

(b) Department of the Navy (DC)

(c) Phillip Dusenberry, Vice Chairman, BBDO-NY (NY)

(d) Omnicom Group Inc., Bruce Crawford, CEO (NY)

COMPLAINANTS: Ruben Collazo, President, Employee Shareholder Association, Inc. (NY)

SUBJECT: Excessive contributions; contributions by government contractor; corporate contributions

DISPOSITION: (a-d) Took no action*

12. MUR 4494

RESPONDENTS:

(a) Cordovans for Lincoln and treasurer (AK)

(b) Valdez Democrats and treasurer (AK)

(c) Ketchikan Democratic Party and treasurer (AK)

(d) Kenai Peninsula Women''''s Political Caucus PAC, Peggy Mullen, treasurer (AK)

COMPLAINANT: Susan Gaston (AK)

SUBJECT: Disclaimers

DISPOSITION: (a-d) Took no action*

13. MUR 4496

RESPONDENTS: (a) Honorable Charles W. Norwood, Jr. (GA)

(b) Norwood for Congress, Abram Serotta, treasurer (GA)

COMPLAINANTS: Steve C. Anthony, Executive Director, Democratic Party of Georgia (GA)

SUBJECT: Submitting reports signed by persons other than treasurer; failure to amend Statement of Organization

DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*

14. MUR 4510

RESPONDENTS:

(a) Debbie Stabenow (MI)

(b) Stabenow for Congress, Alan P. Suits, treasurer (MI)

(c) Alan Suits Investment Company (MI)

COMPLAINANT: Maria Cino, (former) Executive Director, National Republican Congressional Committee (DC)

SUBJECT: Corporate contribution

DISPOSITION: (a-c) Took no action*

15. MUR 4514

RESPONDENTS:

(a) Friends for Franks (1994), Frank Hitchcock, treasurer (CT)

(b) Friends for Franks (1996), Marita T. Thompson, treasurer (CT)

(c) P. A. Lichtenberger (CT)

(d) H. W. Lichtenberger (CT)

(e) Dennis Dunn (Canada)

(f) Debbie Shahid (CT)

(g) Constantine S. Macricostas (CT)

(h) Maria Gaines (CT)

(i) Robert Fiscus (CT)

(j) Richard Grossi (CT)

(k) John Rich (CT)

COMPLAINANT: Edward L. Marcus, State Chairman, Democratic State Central Committee of Connecticut (CT)

SUBJECT: Excessive contributions; foreign national contribution; failure to file disclosure report timely; failure to accurately and fully report receipts and disbursements

DISPOSITION: (a-k) Took no action*

16. MUR 4515

RESPONDENTS:

(a) Clinton Investigative Commission, Ronald W. Wilcox, Executive Director (DC)

(b) Republican National Committee, William J. McManus, treasurer (DC)

(c) Council of Volunteer Americans (VA)

COMPLAINANT: Helen Washington (TX)

SUBJECT: Non-FECA related

DISPOSITION: (a-c) Took no action*

17. MUR 4521

RESPONDENTS: (a) Bernie Ward (CA)

(b) WMAL 630 AM (DC)

COMPLAINANT: William White (VA)

SUBJECT: Corporate contribution

DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*

18. MUR 4525

RESPONDENTS:

(a) Honorable Larry Pressler (SD)

(b) Friends of Larry Pressler, Daniel A. Nelson, treasurer (SD)

(c) Grass Roots Victory Fund, Daniel A. Nelson, treasurer (SD)

COMPLAINANTS: Robert F. Bauer and Ellen L. Weintraub, Counsel to Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DC)

SUBJECT: Personal use of campaign funds; failure to adequately report purpose of expenditures

DISPOSITION: (a-c) Took no action*

19. MUR 4527

RESPONDENTS: (a) Brennan for US Senate, William B. Troubh, treasurer (ME)

(b) Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Paul A. Johnson, treasurer (DC)

COMPLAINANTS: Rick Tyler, Executive Director, Maine Republican Party (ME)

SUBJECT: Excessive contribution; failure to report expenditures

DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*

20. MUR 4536

RESPONDENTS:

(a) Honorable Ellen O. Tauscher (CA)

(b) Ellen Tauscher for Congress, Shirley W. Nelson, treasurer (CA)

(c) Signature Properties, Inc. (CA)

(d) James C. Ghielmettie, CEO, Signature Properties, Inc. (CA)

COMPLAINANTS: Maria Cino, (former) Executive Director, National Republican Congressional Committee (DC)

SUBJECT: Corporate contributions/corporate facilitation; disclaimer

DISPOSITION: (a-d) Took no action*

21. MUR 4540

RESPONDENTS: (a) Honorable Tim Johnson (SD)

(b) Tim Johnson for South Dakota, Inc., Berniece F. Mayer, treasurer (SD)

COMPLAINANTS: Craig M. Engle, General Counsel, National Republican Senatorial Committee (DC)

SUBJECT: Personal use of campaign funds; failure to adequately report purpose of expenditures

DISPOSITION: (a-b) Took no action*

22. MUR 4567

RESPONDENTS: DNC Services Corporation/Democratic National Committee, Carol Pensky, treasurer (DC)

COMPLAINANT: Republican National Committee, Thomas J. Josefiak, Counsel (DC)

SUBJECT: Failure to use "best efforts" to comply with reporting requirements of the Act; filing false reports to the FEC

DISPOSITION: Took no action*

23. MUR 4616

RESPONDENTS:

(a) American Legislative Exchange Council (DC)

(b) Christian Management Association (CA)

(c) Paul M. Weyrich (VA)

(d) Christian Legal Society (VA)

COMPLAINANT: George M. Pramenko, Executive Director, Center for Early American History (CO)

SUBJECT: Failure to register as a political committee

DISPOSITION: (a-d) Took no action*

24. MUR 4622

RESPONDENTS:

(a) Raymond R. Telles (TX)

(b) Raymond Telles for Mayor, Jose A. Silva, Jr., treasurer (TX)

(c) El Diario de Juarez, Osvaldo Rodriguez Borunda, owner (TX)

(d) Juan Uribe (TX)

(e) Antonio Beltran and Peter Piper Pizza Franchise (TX)

(f) Chihuahua Charlie''''s, El Paso-Juarez Trolley Co., and Jose Luis Guterrez, Owner (TX)

(g) Eduardo Fuentes (TX)

(h) El Paso Hispanic, Sam Sarmiento, Editor (TX)

(i) Raul Quinonez (TX)

(j) Artemio de la Vega (TX)

(k) Raul Garza (TX)

COMPLAINANT: Esteban V. Sansores (TX)

SUBJECT: Foreign national contributions

DISPOSITION: (a-k) Took no action*

*There are four administrative stages to the FEC enforcement process:

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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