For Immediate Release |
Contact: |
Judith Ingram |
November 5, 2010 |
| Julia Queen |
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| Christian Hilland |
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| Mary Brandenberger |
FEC TAKES FINAL ACTION ON SIX CASES
WASHINGTON – The Federal Election Commission recently made public its final action on six matters under review (MURs). In three matters, the Commission found no reason to believe a violation occurred. The Commission exercised its prosecutorial discretion and dismissed three other matters.
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.
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| MUR 6250 |
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| RESPONDENTS: |
Ethan Hastert for Congress Committee and Larry Nelson, in his official capacity as treasurer; Ethan Hastert; Burnham Strategies Group, LLC; Brad Hahn; and J. Dennis Hastert |
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| COMPLAINANTS: |
Jon A. Zahm |
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| SUBJECT: |
The complaint alleged that Burnham Strategies Group, LLC, Hahn, and J. Dennis Hastert made, and Ethan Hastert for Congress Committee and Nelson, in his official capacity as treasurer, and Ethan Hastert accepted, excessive in-kind contributions and failed to report those contributions. The complaint alleged further that Ethan Hastert for Congress Committee and Nelson, in his official capacity as treasurer, and Ethan Hastert may have received and Burnham Strategies Group, LLC may have made a prohibited corporate contribution. Ethan Hastert was a 2010 primary election candidate for Illinois’ 14th Congressional District. |
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| OUTCOME:
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The Commission found no reason to believe the respondents violated the Act as there was no available information to substantiate the allegations.
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| MUR 6309 |
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| RESPONDENTS: |
Kansans for Huelskamp and Brian A. Weber, in his official capacity as treasurer |
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| COMPLAINANT: |
Brian Ellis |
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| SUBJECT:
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The complaint alleged that Kansans for Huelskamp and Weber, in his official capacity as treasurer, failed to include disclaimers on bumper stickers. |
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| OUTCOME: |
The Commission found no reason to believe Kansans for Huelskamp and Weber, in his official capacity as treasurer, violated the Act or Commission regulations because bumper stickers are not required to include disclaimers. |
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| MUR 6304 |
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| RESPONDENTS: |
Mark Levin, KQTH-FM and Citadel Broadcasting Corporation |
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| COMPLAINANT: |
Steven M. Jandreau |
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| SUBJECT: |
The complaint alleged that Levin, an employee of Citadel Broadcasting Corporation’s subsidiary, Radio Networks LLC, asked listeners to donate to Scott Brown’s campaign for U.S. Senate during “The Mark Levin Show” on KQTH-FM, a radio station that is owned and operated by Journal Broadcast Corporation, an affiliate of Journal Communications, Inc. |
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| OUTCOME: |
The Commission found no reason to believe that Levin, KQTH-FM or Citadel Broadcasting Corporation violated the Act because the broadcast of the Mark Levin show fell within the media exemption.
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| MUR 6319 |
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| RESPONDENTS: |
Vicky Hartzel for Congress and Delbert Scott, in his official capacity as treasurer |
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| COMPLAINANT: |
Angel Leggett |
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| SUBJECT: |
The complaint alleged that Vicky Hartzel for Congress and Scott, in his official capacity as treasurer, consistently displayed campaign paraphernalia without disclaimers stating who paid for the materials. Vicky Hartzel for Congress acknowledged that a campaign banner lacked disclaimer information and added the requisite disclaimer. |
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| OUTCOME: |
In light of the committee’s prompt remedial action and the limited scope of the alleged violation, and in furtherance of the Commission’s priorities and resources relative to other matters, the Commission exercised its prosecutorial discretion and dismissed the matter. |
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| MUR 6308 |
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| RESPONDENTS: |
Principal Campaign Committee James E Bryan and James E. Bryan, as candidate and in his official capacity as treasurer |
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| COMPLAINANT: |
Brian Tucker |
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| SUBJECT: |
The complaint alleged that Bryan failed to meet the reporting requirements of the Act. Bryan was a 2010 write-in candidate for Florida’s First Congressional District. |
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| OUTCOME: |
The Commission exercised its prosecutorial discretion based on the speculative nature of the allegations and dismissed the matter in furtherance of the Commission’s priorities and resources relative to other matters. |
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| MUR 6281 |
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| RESPONDENTS: |
McPadden for Congress and Hunter McPadden, in his official capacity as treasurer; and Michael McPadden |
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| COMPLAINANT: |
Edgar Straessley Robb |
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| SUBJECT:
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The complaint alleged that McPadden for Congress and Hunter McPadden, in his official capacity as treasurer, failed to report money owed to the complainant as an in-kind contribution or debt and failed to report printing services received from a vendor. Michael McPadden was a candidate for Virginia’s 5th Congressional District. |
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| OUTCOME: |
The Commission exercised its prosecutorial discretion and dismissed the complaint in light of the relatively small amount involved and in furtherance of the Commission’s priorities and resources relative to other matters. The Commission reminded the respondents of the Act’s requirements concerning reporting requirements for disputed debts. |
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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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