FEC Takes Final Action on Six Cases

For Immediate Release

Contact:  

Judith Ingram

August 17 , 2009

Julia Queen

MUR 6203

RESPONDENTS:

Itinere North America, LLC; Itinere Infrastructure, LLC; Itinere Infraestructuras, S.A.

COMPLAINANTS:

Self-reported

SUBJECT:

The report concluded that Itinere North America, LLC and Itinere Infrastructure, LLC made nonfederal contributions with funds provided by their foreign parent corporation.

OUTCOME:

The FEC and the respondents entered into a conciliation agreement with a $10,000 civil penalty.

MUR 5575

RESPONDENTS:

Alaska Democratic Party and Rolando Rivas, in his official capacity as treasurer; and Tony Knowles for U.S. Senate Committee and Leslie Ridle, in her official capacity as treasurer

COMPLAINANT:

Timothy A. McKeever

SUBJECT:

The complaint alleged the Act was violated when the Alaska Democratic Party (ADP) and Rivas, as treasurer, mailed ADP-funded mailers, which advocated for the election of Tony Knowles for U.S. Senate, that did not qualify for the volunteer exemption since no portion of the mailers was completed by volunteers.  If the mailers did not qualify for the volunteer exemption then they would have constituted coordinated party expenditures in excess of the allowable limit and lacked adequate disclosure information.

OUTCOME:

In 2006, the Commission found reason to believe the respondents violated the Act and authorized further investigation to determine whether the source of the funds used by ADP would prevent the mailings from qualifying for the volunteer materials exemption. In 2009, the Commission voted against finding probable cause to believe the respondents violated the Act.

MUR 6140

RESPONDENTS:

Rep. Robert E. Andrews; Andrews for Congress Committee and Maureen Doherty, in her official capacity as treasurer; Rep. Loretta Sanchez; Committee to Re-Elect Loretta Sanchez and Kinde Durkee, in her official capacity as treasurer; Bill Dew; Bill Dew for Congress, and Mike McCauley, in his official capacity as treasurer; William James Breazeale; Breazeale for Congress, and Kenneth Ray Pervine in his official capacity as treasurer; Andrew MacPherson; Barr 2008 Presidential Committee and David Chastain in his official capacity as treasurer

COMPLAINANTS:

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and Melanie Sloan

SUBJECT:

The complaint alleged that the respondents violated the personal use provisions of the Act by using campaign funds to buy clothing for candidates.

OUTCOME:

The Commission used its prosecutorial discretion to dismiss the matter as to: Andrews, his Committee and Doherty, as treasurer; Sanchez, her Committee and Durkee, as treasurer; Dew, his Committee and McCauley, as treasurer; and Breazeale, his Committee and Pervine, as treasurer. The Commission sent letters of caution, advising them to take steps to ensure their conduct is in compliance with the Act and Commission regulations. The Commission found no reason to believe MacPherson, the Barr Committee or Chastain, as treasurer, committed violations.

MUR 6095

RESPONDENTS:

McCain-Palin Victory Fund 2008 and Lisa Lisker, in her official capacity as treasurer; Republican National Committee and Tim Johnson, in his official capacity as treasurer; Michigan Republican Party and Carl Meyers, in his official capacity as treasurer; Missouri Republican State Committee-Federal and Richard Peerson, in his official capacity as treasurer; Ohio Republican Party State Central and Executive Committee and Sara Brown, in her official capacity as treasurer; Republican Federal Committee of Pennsylvania and Patricia Poprik, in her official capacity as treasurer; McCain-Palin Compliance Fund, Inc. and Joseph Schmuckler, in his official capacity as treasurer. 

COMPLAINANT:

Stephen F. Franks

SUBJECT:

The complaint alleged that then-presidential candidate John McCain violated the Act by soliciting contributions for his general election campaign, despite his acceptance of public funding for the election.

OUTCOME:

The Commission used its prosecutorial discretion to dismiss the allegation as to McCain-Palin Compliance Fund, Inc. and Schmuckler, in his official capacity as treasurer, and sent a letter of caution regarding the requirements set forth in the Commission''''s regulations. The Commission found no reason to believe the other respondents violated FEC regulations.

MUR 6169

RESPONDENTS:

Triangle Pride PAC and Steven Walker, in his official capacity as treasurer

COMPLAINANT:

Jeff Timmer, Executive Director of the Republican Party of Michigan

SUBJECT:

The complaint alleged that the PAC triggered “political committee” status by supporting several federal candidates and violated the Act by failing to register and report with the FEC.

OUTCOME:

The Commission used its prosecutorial discretion to dismiss the matter because the PAC did not meet the $1,000 contribution and expenditure statutory threshold.

MUR 6132

RESPONDENTS:

Queen Anne’s County Democratic Central Committee

COMPLAINANT:

Sharon Maenner Carrick, Chairman of Queen Anne’s County Republican Central Committee

SUBJECT:

The complaint alleged that newspaper advertisements sponsored by the respondent lacked proper disclaimers.

OUTCOME:

The Commission used its prosecutorial discretion to dismiss the matter in light of the low dollar amount involved and sent a letter of caution advising the Committee to take steps to ensure its conduct is in compliance with the Act and Commission regulations.

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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