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  • Press Release

FEC Releases Six Compliance Cases

April 28, 1998

News Releases, Media Advisories

For Immediate Release: Contact: Kelly Huff April 28, 1998 Ron Harris Sharon Snyder Ian Stirton

FEC RELEASES SIX COMPLIANCE CASES

WASHINGTON-The Federal Election Commission has made public its final action on six 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 4215

RESPONDENTS: (a) Michigan Democratic State Central Committee, Roger Winkleman, treasurer (MI)

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

COMPLAINANTS: Michigan Republican State Committee, Eric E. Doster, General Counsel (MI)

SUBJECT: Failure to pay allocated costs from federal account; misreporting transfers from non-federal account to federal account; failure to accurately report allocated disbursements; excessive contributions; corporate and/or labor union contributions; failure to establish separate accounts for allocation purposes; failure to allocate shared expenses accurately; failure to use fixed percentages for allocating administrative expenses and costs of generic voter drive activity; transfers to state party committees and allocation formulas used

DISPOSITION: (a) Conciliation Agreement: $35,000 civil penalty*

File amended reports.

[re: failure to pay allocated costs from federal account; misreporting transfers from non-federal account to federal account; failure to accurately report allocated disbursements]

Reason to believe, but took no further action*

[re: excessive contributions; corporate and/or labor union contributions; failure to establish separate accounts for allocation purposes; failure to allocate shared expenses accurately]

(b) No probable cause to believe*

[re: transfers to state party committees and allocation formulas used]

2. MUR 4451

RESPONDENTS:

  • (a) Commission on Presidential Debates (DC)
  • (b) Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. (NY)
  • (c) Fox Broadcasting Company (CA)
  • (d) Public Broadcasting Service (VA)
  • (e) Clinton Gore ''''96 General Committee, Inc., Joan C. Pollitt, treasurer (DC)
  • (f) Dole Kemp ''''96, Inc., Robert E. Lighthizer, treasurer (DC)
  • COMPLAINANTS:

  • Natural Law Party, Kingley Brooks, National Chairman (IA)
  • Dr. John Hagelin (IA)
  • Dr. Mike Tompkins (IA)
  • SUBJECT: Failure to use pre-established objective criteria for selection of candidates for participation in debates; corporate contributions; failure to register and report

    DISPOSITION: (a-f) No reason to believe*

    3. MUR 4473

    RESPONDENTS:

  • (a) DNC Services Corporation/Democratic National Committee, Carol Pensky, treasurer (DC)
  • (b) Republican National Committee - RNC, Alec Poitevint, treasurer (DC)
  • (c) Dole/Kemp ''''96, Inc., Robert E. Lighthizer, treasurer (DC)
  • (d) Commission on Presidential Debates (DC)
  • (e) Clinton/Gore ''''96 General Committee, Joan C. Pollitt, treasurer (DC)
  • COMPLAINANTS: Perot ''''96, Inc., J. Michael Poss, treasurer (TX)

    SUBJECT: Failure to use pre-established objective criteria for selection of candidates for participation in debates; corporate contributions; failure to register and report

    DISPOSITION: (a-e) No reason to believe*

    4. MUR 4607

    RESPONDENTS:

  • (a) National Council of Senior Citizens, Harry Guenther, President (DC)
  • (b) Friends of Mark Warner, Nicholas Perrins, treasurer (VA)
  • (c) National Council of Senior Citizens PAC, Michael A. Ingrao, former treasurer (MD)
  • (d) Clinton/Gore ''''96 General Committee, Inc., Joan Pollitt, treasurer (DC)
  • (e) Balanoff for Congress, Evelyn M. Garcia, treasurer (IL)
  • (f) Bonior for Congress, David M. Diegel, treasurer (MI)
  • (g) Committee to Elect Winston Bryant-U.S. Senate, Clifford P. Block, treasurer (AR)
  • (h) Committee to Re-Elect James E. Clyburn, Tom E. Felder, treasurer (SC)
  • (i) Friends of Dick Durbin Committee, Michael E. Daley, treasurer (IL)
  • (j) Friends of Patrick J. Kennedy ''''96, William San Bento, Jr., treasurer (RI)
  • (k) Kerry Committee, William L. Elsbree, treasurer (MA)
  • (l) Levin for Congress Committee, Joseph J. O''''Brien, treasurer (MI)
  • (m) Friends of Congressman George Miller, Howard Jameson, treasurer (CA)
  • (n) Lynn Rivers for Congress Committee 98, Thomas A. Webb, treasurer (MI)
  • (o) Pete Stark Re-Election Committee, Deborah R. Stark, treasurer (CA)
  • (p) Friends of Tom Strickland, Inc., Christopher W. Romer, treasurer (CO)
  • (q) Torricelli for U. S. Senate, Inc., Adam Crain, treasurer (NJ)
  • (r) Weygand Committee, Peter Fogarty, treasurer (RI)
  • COMPLAINANT: United Seniors Association, Inc., Sandra L. Butler, President (VA)

    SUBJECT: Corporate contribution; disclaimer

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

    [re: corporate contribution; disclaimer] Sent admonishment letter.

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

    [re: corporate contribution] Sent admonishment letter.

    (c-r) No reason to believe*

    [re: any provision of the law]

    5. MUR 4700

    RESPONDENTS: Nalepa ''''96, James Nalepa, treasurer (IL)

    COMPLAINANT: FEC Initiated (RAD)

    SUBJECT: Failure to file disclosure reports timely

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

    6. MUR 4725/Pre-MUR 342

    RESPONDENTS:
  • (a) Honorable Chris John (LA)
  • (b) Chris John Campaign Committee, Inc., Kenneth Dugas, treasurer (LA)
  • (c) Chris John Campaign Committee, Inc., (a.k.a. Chris John for Lieutenant Governor campaign) (LA)
  • (d) Robert Cox (LA)
  • (e) Gregory Gibson (LA)
  • (f) Doctor''''s Hospital of Opelousas Management Inc. (LA)
  • (g) Copestone, Inc. (LA)
  • COMPLAINANT: Referral by Michael D. Skinner, United States Attorney, Western District of Louisiana (LA)

    SUBJECT: Use of non-federal (state) funds for federal campaign; personal funds

    DISPOSITION: (a-g) No reason to believe*

    *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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