CREW v. FEC alleges failure to act on administrative complaint (D.D.C. 1:18-cv-00493-EGS)

On March 1, 2018, Citizens for Responsibility for Ethics in Washington (“CREW”) and its executive director, Noah Bookbinder, (collectively “plaintiffs”) filed suit against the Commission in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The plaintiffs challenge the Commission’s failure to act on their administrative complaint, and seek injunctive and declaratory relief.

Background

Conservative Solutions PAC, an independent expenditure-only committee (Super PAC) registered with the Commission, reported receiving a $500,000 contribution from IGX LLC on October 26, 2015. In February 2016, the Associated Press (AP) reported that it had identified the owner of IGX LLC as Andrew Duncan. The AP also reported that Duncan had said he was the source of the contribution and had used IGX LLC to mask the donation because he was worried about reprisals. On February 19, 2016, the plaintiffs filed an administrative complaint with the FEC against Andrew Duncan and IGX LLC, as well as Conservative Solutions PAC and its treasurer, Nancy H. Watkins (collectively “respondents”). The plaintiffs alleged that the respondents violated the Federal Election Campaign Act by knowingly making and accepting a political contribution in the name of another person.

The Plaintiffs ask the court to declare that the Commission’s failure to act on the administrative complaint is contrary to law and order that the Commission act on the administrative complaint within 30 days.

Editor's note: On June 19, 2018, the Plaintiffs filed a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal with the district court.

Resources:

• CREW, et al. v. FEC (18-0493) litigation page