For Immediate Release |
Contact: |
Judith Ingram |
December 10 , 2009 |
| Mary Brandenberger |
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| Julia Queen |
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| Christian Hilland |
FEC TAKES FINAL ACTION ON FOUR CASES
WASHINGTON – The Federal Election Commission recently made public its final action on four matters under review (MURs). In one matter, respondents agreed to conciliation agreements providing for them to undertake remedial actions. In another matter, the Commission dismissed one allegation and found no reason to believe a violation occurred in relation to another allegation. The Commission dismissed the third matter, and closed the file in the fourth matter.
Under the law, the FEC must attempt to resolve its enforcement cases, or 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 5783 |
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RESPONDENTS: |
Green Party of Luzerne County, PA and Shane Novak, in his official capacity as Treasurer; Carl Romanelli for U.S. Senate and Shane Novak, in his official capacity as treasurer; and Carl J. Romanelli |
COMPLAINANT: |
William Caroselli |
SUBJECT: |
The complaint alleged that the Green Party of Luzerne County, PA, made and that Carl Romanelli for U.S. Senate and Romanelli knowingly accepted excessive in-kind contributions. Romanelli was a candidate in 2006 for Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate seat. |
OUTCOME: |
The Commission found reason to believe that the Green Party of Luzerne County, PA made and that Carl Romanelli for U.S. Senate and Romanelli knowingly accepted excessive in-kind contributions, and that the Romanelli Committee failed to properly report the receipt of in-kind contributions and the allocation of disbursements. In two conciliation agreements, the Green Party of Luzerne County, PA, the Romanelli Committee, Novak, in his official capacity as treasurer, and Romanelli agreed that the treasurer would attend an FEC conference and that the Committees would amend the relevant reports to the FEC. The conciliation agreements did not provide for payment of a civil penalty due to the respondents’ demonstration of financial hardship. |
MUR 6190 |
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RESPONDENTS: |
Kelly B. Bearden; Norman R. Byrne; Rosemary Byrne; Byrne Electrical, Inc.; Daniel P. Byrne; Katherine Scudder; and Molly M. Nowak |
COMPLAINANT: |
David Wayne Bearden |
SUBJECT: |
The complainant alleged that Kelly Bearden, his estranged wife, made a contribution in his name to John McCain 2008, Inc., from their joint checking account without his knowledge or approval. The complaint alleged further that Kelly Bearden’s father, Norman Byrne, had instructed family members and some employees of his company, Byrne Electrical Inc., to contribute to the McCain Campaign and that he had reimbursed them, resulting in contributions in the name of another.
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OUTCOME: |
The Commission found no reason to believe respondents made contributions in the name of another. The Commission exercised its prosecutorial discretion to dismiss the allegation that Kelly Bearden made a contribution in her husband’s name. |
MUR 6195 |
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RESPONDENTS: |
Michael Bond for Congress and Brett P. Smiley, in his official capacity as treasurer |
COMPLAINANT: |
Lake County Republican Central Committee, by Chairman Daniel Venturi |
SUBJECT: |
The complaint alleged that Bond failed to file a Statement of Candidacy within 15 days of becoming a candidate. Bond is a 2010 candidate for Illinois’ 10th Congressional District. |
OUTCOME: |
The Commission exercised its prosecutorial discretion and dismissed the matter because Bond claimed to have filed a Statement of Candidacy and the Committee filed its Statement of Organization within days of receiving the first contribution of the campaign. |
MUR 5903 |
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RESPONDENTS: |
PBS&J Corporation; William S. DeLoach; Richard A. Wickett; H. Michael Dye; Maria M. Garcia; Rosario Licata; Shannan Ighodaro; Sybil Thomas; Lourdes Fernandez; Reinaldo Fernandez; Ana Quinones; Victor Quinones; James Breland; and Larry Boatman |
COMPLAINANT: |
Maria M. Garcia |
SUBJECT: |
The complaint alleged that PBS&J Corporation knowingly made prohibited corporate contributions to political committees when it reimbursed campaign contributions made by its employees and their family members. |
OUTCOME: |
The Commission closed the file. |
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 of Representatives, 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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