Free Speech For People v. FEC alleges failure to act on complaint (1:19-cv-01722)

On June 13, 2019, Free Speech For People filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia challenging the Commission’s alleged failure to act on its administrative complaint.

Background

The court complaint states that Free Speech For People (the plaintiff) filed an administrative complaint with the FEC on February 16, 2018, alleging that American Media, Inc., Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., Donald J. Trump, and Michael Cohen violated the Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act) by unlawfully arranging a payment of $150,000 to Karen McDougal for the purpose of influencing the 2016 presidential election. The complaint further states that the plaintiff filed amendments to its administrative complaint on April 26, 2018 and July 26, 2018. The plaintiff alleges that the Commission has failed to resolve both its initial complaint and the amendments.

The Act permits the complainant to file an action with the Court if the Commission fails to act on an administrative complaint within 120 days. The plaintiff asks the court to declare that the FEC’s alleged failure to act on its administrative complaint is contrary to law and to order the FEC to conform with the declaration within 30 days.

Resources

Free Speech For People v. FEC litigation page