FEC cites committees for failure to file 12-Day Pre-Primary Financial Report

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Election Commission cited six campaign committees today for failing to file the 12-Day Pre-Primary Report required by the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (the Act), for primary elections being held on August 4, 2020 in Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, and Washington.

As of July 31, 2020, the required disclosure report had not been received from:

-Bob Musselwhite for Congress (AZ-08)*

-Starky for Congress (AZ-04)

-Friends of Bob Olsen 4 Congress (AZ-08)

-Brian Matlock for Senate (KS)

-Bentivolio for Congress (MI-11)

-Armitage for Congress (WA-05)

The pre-primary report was due on July 23, 2020, and should have included financial activity for the period July 1, 2020, through July 15, 2020. If sent by certified or registered mail, the report should have been postmarked by July 20, 2020.

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 these primary elections of their potential filing requirements on July 3, 2020. Those committees that did not file by the due date were sent notification on July 24, 2020, 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 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.

*This committee previously filed its reports on paper. Since the Federal Election Commission has entered the initial phase (Phase I) of its reopening in an effort to limit the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and is currently processing documents or reports submitted on paper on a limited basis, it is possible this report has been filed on paper. Reports sent by registered mail, overnight delivery, or certified mail, are considered filed with the FEC as of the date of the postmark. Reports submitted by first class mail will be considered filed when actually received by Commission staff, subject to delays resulting from the agency's limited mail processing.