DNC Files Suit to Compel FEC to Investigate McCain
The Democratic National Committee filed suit today to compel the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to investigate whether Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) violated election laws by pulling out of a federal matching funds program.
The DNC had already filed a complaint with the FEC alleging that McCain had violated federal election rules by unilaterally withdrawing from the program. The McCain campaign disputes that allegation.
"Despite Senator McCain's apparent belief that the reforms he championed apply to everyone but himself, there is a compelling public interest in determining whether Senator McCain agreed to participate in the matching funds program so he could get a loan for his campaign, then violated the terms of that agreement so he could ignore the spending cap and raise unlimited money from lobbyists and special interests," said DNC Executive Director Tom McMahon in an e-mailed statement.
The whole issue is further complicated by the lack of a quorum on the FEC. A dispute between the two parties means that three of the five seats on the commission are empty. NPR's Peter Overby has extensively reported on the situation.
The Hill reports that Republican Party officials say the suit has no merit. Alex Conant, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, called it "another desperate attempt by (DNC Chairman) Howard Dean to distract from a divisive battle within their own party."
1:57 PM ET | 04-14-2008 | permalink
