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For Immediate Release

Contact: 

Bob Biersack

August 8, 2008

George Smaragdis

  Mary Brandenberger

 

FEC Cites Committee for Failure to File Connecticut Pre-Primary Report

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Election Commission cited a Congressional campaign committee today for failing to file the Pre-Primary Report required by the Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act) for the primary election on August 12 in Connecticut.

As of 5 p.m. August 7, 2008, the required disclosure report had not been received from Lee Whitnum 2008, principal campaign committee for Lisa Lee Whitnum in Connecticut’s 4th Congressional District. The committee’s treasurer is L. Lee Whitnum.

The report was due on July 31, 2008, and should have included financial activity for the period July 1, 2008, through July 23, 2008.  If sent by certified or registered mail, the report should have been postmarked by July 28, 2008.

Some individuals and their committees have no obligation to file reports under federal election law, even though their names may appear on state ballots.  If an individual raises or spends less than $5,000, he or she is not considered a "candidate" subject to reporting under the Act.

The FEC notified committees involved in this primary of their potential filing requirements on July 7, 2008.  Those committees who did not file on the due date were notified on August 1, 2008, that reports had not been received and that their names would be published if they did not respond within four business days.

Other political committees that support Senate and House candidates in elections, but are not authorized units of a candidate's campaign, are also required to file pre-primary reports, unless they report monthly.  Those committee names are not published by the FEC.

Further Commission action against non-filers and late filers is decided on a case-by-case basis. Federal law gives the FEC broad authority to initiate enforcement actions, and the FEC has implemented an administrative fine program with provisions for assessing monetary penalties.

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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