As the Lone Star Project forecast last month , a formal Federal Elections Commission complaint has been filed against Republican State Representative Bill Zedler, Congressman Joe Barton, and Congresswoman Kay Granger for illegally soliciting more than twice the legal amount allowed by federal campaign finance law. A copy of the complaint can be seen here.
The violations result from an illegal fundraiser organized and authorized by the Bill Zedler Campaign. Republican Members of Congress, Joe Barton and Kay Granger, allowed Zedler to include them as honorary hosts of the event and to solicit contributions up to $5,000. Federal law specifically prohibits Members of Congress from raising more than $2,300 from any individual.
Showing a blatant disregard for the federal legal restrictions, the fundraising invitation was placed on Bill Zedler’s campaign letterhead and sent to potential donors asking for contributions more than twice the amount allowed by federal law.
Excerpts from the complaint
Solicited Double the Legal Amount
“The attached invitation from the Bill Zedler Campaign uses Barton and Granger’s names – with their apparent authorization – to ask for contributions that far exceed federal limits… By seeking contributions of more than double the federal limit, Respondents have solicited “soft money” in clear violation of federal law. “Failed to Inform Donors
“When the violation detailed in this complaint became public, none of the respondents (State Representative Bill Zedler, Congressman Barton and Congresswoman Granger) seems to have taken any public action to inform donors that they had been solicited illegally and should restrict their contributions”Repeated Violation
“Nine days later, they purported to “supersede” the original, illegal solicitation with one not mentioning Barton or Granger, and blamed the violation on a “layout error.” But their demand for money apparently outweighed their desire to comply, because they continued illegally to solicit and accept contributions exceeding federal limits.”– FEC Complaint, 9-16-2008