FEC Releases Seven Compliance Cases
FEC RELEASES SEVEN COMPLIANCE CASES
WASHINGTON -- The Federal Election Commission has made public its final action on seven 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. MUR 4546
RESPONDENTS: Friends for Jack Metcalf Committee, Frank M. McCord,
treasurer (WA)
COMPLAINANTS: Paul Berendt, Chair, Washington State Democratic Central Committee (WA)
SUBJECT: Failure to provide contributor information and demonstrate "best efforts"
DISPOSITION: Conciliation Agreement: $7,000 civil penalty*
2. MUR 4741
RESPONDENTS: Mary Bono Committee, Kathie L. Parish, treasurer (CA)
COMPLAINANT: Ralph Waite (CA)
SUBJECT: Disclaimers
DISPOSITION: Conciliation Agreement: $3,500 civil penalty*
3. MUR 4749
RESPONDENTS: (a) Napolitano for Congress, Yolanda Dyer, treasurer (CA)
(b) Grace Flores Napolitano (CA)
(c) Frank Napolitano (CA)
(d) Luigi A. Vernola (CA)
(e) Harvey Englander (CA)
COMPLAINANT: James M. Casso (CA)
SUBJECT: Excessive contributions; candidate loans from other than personal funds; interest rate on personal loan
DISPOSITION: (a) Reason to believe, but took no further action*
[re: excessive contribution]
No reason to believe*
[re: candidate loans from other than personal funds]
Sent admonishment letter.
(b) No reason to believe*
[re: interest rate on personal loan]
(c) No reason to believe*
[re: excessive contribution]
(d) Reason to believe, but took no further action*
[re: excessive contribution]
Sent admonishment letter.
(e) No reason to believe*
[re: any violation ]
4. MUR 4809
RESPONDENTS: (a) Charles Ball (CA)
(b) Charles Ball for Congress Committee, Cynthia Wilkinson, treasurer (CA)
COMPLAINANTS: Kathleen K. Bowler, Executive Director, California Democratic
Party (CA)
SUBJECT: Failure to file Statement of Candidacy timely; failure to file Statement of Organization timely; filing reports disclosing activity outside reporting period
DISPOSITION: (a) No reason to believe*
[re: failure to file Statement of Candidacy]
(b) Reason to believe, but took no further action*
[re: failure to file Statement of Organization timely; filing reports disclosing activity outside reporting period]
Sent admonishment letter.
5. MUR 4856
RESPONDENTS: (a) Liberal Party of New York State, Anne L. Peskin, treasurer (NY)
(b) Independence Party Federal Committee, Laureen Oliver,
treasurer (NY)
(c) Reform Party of the United States of America, Michael B. Morris, Jr., treasurer (TX)
(d) Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Joe Hansen, treasurer (NY)
(e) Schumer ’98 Steven D. Goldenkranz, treasurer (NY)
COMPLAINANTS: Jeffery T. Buley, General Counsel, New York Republican State Committee (NY)
SUBJECT: Excessive coordinated contributions
DISPOSITION: (a-e) No reason to believe*
6. MUR 4866
RESPONDENTS: Elections Committee of the County of Orange, Tamara Jean McIntyre, treasurer (CA)
COMPLAINANT: FEC Initiated (RAD)
SUBJECT: Failure to file disclosure report timely
DISPOSITION: Conciliation Agreement: $1,100 civil penalty*
7. MUR 4888
RESPONDENTS: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 Committee on Political Education (COPE), James F. Mackin,
former treasurer (PA)
COMPLAINANT: FEC Initiated (RAD)
SUBJECT: Failure to file disclosure report timely
DISPOSITION: Reason to believe, but took no further action*
Sent admonishment letter.
*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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