FEC Cites Committees for Failure to File October Quarterly Financial Report

WASHINGTON - The Federal Election Commission today cited seven campaign committees for failing to file the 2018 October Quarterly Report required by the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (the Act).

As of October 29, 2018, the required disclosure report had not been received from:

• Elect April Freeman (FL-17)
• Committee to Elect Timmy Westley (TX-15)
• Tatiana Matta for Congress (CA-23)
• Charles Schaupp for Congress 2018 (CA-03)
• Jineea Butler for Congress (NY-13)
• Craig Bowden for Senate (UT)
• Committee to Elect Tricia Flanagan US (NJ)

The October Quarterly Report was due on October 15, 2018, and should have included financial activity for the period July 1, 2018, through September 30, 2018. If sent by certified or registered mail, the report should have been postmarked by October 15, 2018.

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

The Commission notified committees involved in 2018 elections of their potential filing requirements on September 21, 2018. Those committees that did not file by the due date were sent notification on October 22, 2018, that their 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 quarterly reports, unless they report monthly. Those committee names are not published by the Commission.

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