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Federal Election Commission | United States of America
  • Press Release

FEC Takes Final Action on Eight Matters

February 10, 2009

News Release

 

For Immediate Release

Contact:  

Judith Ingram

February 10 , 2009

Mary Brandenberger

 

FEC TAKES FINAL ACTION ON EIGHT MATTERS

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Election Commission recently made public its final action on several previous matters under review (MURs). In one matter, a campaign committee and its treasurer agreed to pay civil penalties of $99,000. In another matter, the Commission found probable cause to believe a violation occurred but declined to file suit. In addition, the FEC found no reason to believe the law was violated in five instances and closed the file in two other cases.

Under the law, the FEC must attempt to resolve its enforcement cases, or Matters Under Review (MURs), through a confidential investigative process that may lead to a negotiated conciliation agreement between the Commission and the individual or group. Additional information regarding MURs can be found on the FEC web site at http://www.fec.gov/em/mur.shtml.

This release contains only summary information.For additional details, please consult publicly available documents for each case in the Enforcement Query System (EQS) on the FEC web site at http://eqs.fec.gov/eqs/searcheqs.

MUR 5959

RESPONDENTS:

Martinez for Senate and Nancy Watkins as treasurer

COMPLAINANT:

FEC Initiated (Audit)

SUBJECT:

Through an FEC audit, the Commission found that Martinez for Senate received 186 contributions, totaling $313,235, which exceeded contribution limits; failed to file required notices of contributions just prior to elections; and failed to properly disclose joint fundraising proceeds.

OUTCOME:

In a conciliation agreement, respondents agreed to pay a civil penalty of $99,000.
   

MUR 5642

RESPONDENTS:

George Soros; Fenton Communications; David Fenton; World Affairs Council of Philadelphia; and Columbus Metropolitan Club

COMPLAINANT:

National Legal and Policy Center

SUBJECT:

The complaint alleged that George Soros failed to report independent expenditures associated with his advocacy of the defeat of President George W. Bush in the 2004 campaign and filed some FEC financial reports late. The complaint also alleged that the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia and the Columbus Metropolitan Club, both of which are non-profit organizations, spent corporate resources to expressly advocate Bush’s electoral defeat.

OUTCOME:

The Commission found no reason to believe that Fenton Communications, David Fenton, the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia or the Columbus Metropolitan Club violated the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA, the Act). The Commission found probable cause to believe that a violation by Soros occurred but in a 3-3 vote declined to authorize the FEC to file suit against him. The Commission closed the file and took no further action.
   

MUR 5965

RESPONDENTS:

Fischer for U.S. Senate and Ruth Payne as treasurer; Gregory E. Fischer; and Dant Clayton Corporation

COMPLAINANT:

Jack Richardson

SUBJECT:

The complaint alleged impermissible, in-kind contributions from corporations employing or owned by the candidate.

OUTCOME:

The Commission found no reason to believe Dant Clayton Corporation, Gregory E. Fischer or Fischer for U.S. Senate violated the Act by making or receiving corporate contributions. The FEC dismissed the matter relating to the company owned by the candidate.

   

MUR 5968

RESPONDENTS:

John Shadeggs Friends and Ian Macpherson as treasurer; Leadership for America’s Future PAC and Keith Davis as treasurer; Keith Davis; John Dawson; David Van Denburgh

COMPLAINANT:

Arizona Democratic Party

SUBJECT:

The complaint alleged that two individuals exceeded contribution limits and made contributions in the name of another by contributing directly to the 2008 Shadegg campaign and also to Rep. Shadegg’s leadership political action committee (PAC) before the leadership PAC made contributions to the Shadegg campaign.

OUTCOME:

The Commission found no reason to believe the law was violated.

   

MUR 5950

RESPONDENTS:

Hillary Clinton for President and Shelly Moskwa as treasurer; David Guo; and Hsaio Yen Wang

COMPLAINANT:

Matthew Margolis

SUBJECT:

The complaint alleged that contributions were made in the name of another and contributions were made by foreign nationals.

OUTCOME:

The Commission found no reason to believe that the respondents violated any provisions of the Act or FEC regulations and closed the file.
   

MUR 5954

RESPONDENTS:

Friends of Dave Reichert and Paul Kilgore as treasurer; The Reichert Washington Victory Committee and Keith Davis as treasurer; Washington State Republican Party and Ed Mitchell as treasurer; Dave Reichert; and Lee Ann Farrell

COMPLAINANT:

Dwight Pelz

SUBJECT:

The complaint alleged that the Reichert campaign, the Reichert Washington Victory Committee and the Washington State Republican Party failed to comply with accounting and reporting requirements for joint fundraising activities. The complaint also alleged that Dave Reichert solicited and collected contributions in excess of federal limits and that Lee Ann Farrell made, and the Reichert campaign accepted, an excessive contribution.

OUTCOME:

The Commission found no reason to believe that Dave Reichert, the Reichert campaign, the Washington State Republican Party or Lee Ann Farrell violated the Act. The FEC dismissed the allegations regarding the Reichert Washington Victory Committee.

MUR 5957

  

RESPONDENTS:

Committee to Elect Sekhon for Congress and Daljit Kaur Sekhon as treasurer

COMPLAINANT:

FEC Initiated

SUBJECT:

Through an analysis of campaign finance reports, FEC analysts discovered that the Committee to Elect Sekhon for Congress and Daljit Kaur Sekhon, in her official capacity as treasurer, failed to provide required information about contributors on disclosure reports. 

OUTCOME:

The Commission closed the file.
   

MUR 5952

RESPONDENTS:

Californians for Fair Election Reform; Hillary Clinton for President and Shelly Moskwa as treasurer; Warren Hellman; Norman Lear; Christopher Lehane; Nancy Parrish; Thomas Steyer; and Margie Sullivan

COMPLAINANT:

Ray Haynes

SUBJECT:

The complaint alleged that Californians for Fair Election Reform made expenditures in support of the Clinton campaign that were coordinated with Hillary Clinton for President.

OUTCOME:

 The Commission found no reason to believe the law was violated.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent regulatory agency that administers and enforces federal campaign finance laws. The FEC has jurisdiction over the financing of campaigns for the U.S. House, the U.S. Senate, the Presidency and the Vice Presidency. Established in 1975, the FEC is composed of six Commissioners who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

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This information is not intended to replace the law or to change its meaning, nor does this information create or confer any rights for or on any person or bind the Federal Election Commission or the public.

The reader is encouraged also to consult the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (52 U.S.C. 30101 et seq.), Commission regulations (Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations), Commission advisory opinions and applicable court decisions.