Posted on 06/12/2018 7:17:35 AM PDT by LiveFreeOrDie2001
A federal judge has blown the whistle on a secret Federal Election Commission scheme to punish some Republican groups and their donors, the latest sign of an anti-GOP bias at the elections watchdog.
In a newly released decision, Trump-appointed District Court Judge Trevor N. McFadden shined a spotlight on the FEC’s general counsel who recommended action against four Republican groups but dismissal of similar charges against supporters of a Democratic group, “Black Men Vote.”
In the case, the Washington-based Campaign Legal Center charged that the FEC wrongly voted to drop charges against three of the Republican super PACS accused of taking “straw donations” through corporations. The Trump White House in review: Week 72 Watch Full Screen to Skip Ads
In a February 2016 3-3 vote, the FEC's Republicans voted to dismiss action in all five cases, noting that the conduct of the donors was the same in each, including the Black Men Vote complaint. FEC Democrats sought to investigate the four Republican and one Democratic groups.
In a sixth enforcement case, the FEC's Democratic chairman switched his position and refused to investigate a real estate developer allegedly using shell companies to funnel Chinese money to support a Florida Democrat.
In the federal court case, McFadden considered only three Republican cases involving straw donors from limited liability corporations, but since the FEC combined all five confidential recommendations, he considered them all too and made a point to note how the FEC counsel’s enforcement recommendations were biased against Republicans.
The decision follows an amazing admission by a former Democratic FEC chairwoman and frequent critic of Republicans and President Trump that the agency is biased against the GOP.
Asked if the cases before the FEC are biased, Ann Ravel said, “Absolutely. The cases have come primarily from watchdog groups, and most of those groups are on the liberal side.”
The judge’s decision won support from a former Democratic FEC chairman who said it was a major victory for the election commission. “A resounding victory for the FEC at the USDC for DC. The agency wins deference for its decision (three Commissioners voted not to investigate three ‘dark money cases) and quite a ‘tip of the hat to the First Amendment's role in agency decisions,” tweeted Bob Lenhard.
WTF Bookmark
I must be the dumbest person on Free Republic.
I have no idea what this reporter is writing about in the article. Cannot get head nor tail.
However, I thrilled that a Trump appointed judge was given the case.
In a February 2016 3-3 vote, the FEC's Republicans voted to dismiss action in all five cases, noting that the conduct of the donors was the same in each, including the Black Men Vote complaint. FEC Democrats sought to investigate the four Republican and one Democratic groups. In a sixth enforcement case, the FEC's Democratic chairman switched his position and refused to investigate a real estate developer allegedly using shell companies to funnel Chinese money to support a Florida Democrat.
Thanks LiveFreeOrDie2001.
“...Trump-appointed District Court Judge Trevor N. McFadden ...”
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And THIS is why it it urgently important that McConnell clear out the backlog of Trump District Court nomininees awaiting Senate confirmation votes. We NEED MORE TRUMP DISTRICT COURT JUDGES.
Speed it up Turtleman!
Trump’s nominees are being approved rapidly about as rapidly as can be done.
#23/ Would be nice to know who the 6th case “real estate” developer is and how much money did Red China illegally want to give to “a Florida Democrat” (who should also be named since we don’t have the name of that case).
The very Definition of the Alinsky methodology in action— find your cohorts who are already in government and put them to work (in the Russian.... as apparatchiki- mechanisms), acting “officially” but working... for your political tyranny.
obamaumao is simply a criminal, anti-constitutional, foreign agent.
On virtually every level of government- he has compromised the machinery.... to Leftist and globalist agendas— EPA? (the UN waters of the world, approved industry methodologies and machinery only allowed by them, agricultural pesticides, environmental “analysis” of construction/infrastructure)... the “Greens” are REDS. HHS- obamaumao’care’= control of populace (including Arms Second Amendment, Mental health “decisions”— political imprisonment ala Soviet system)— and on down the cabinet and other agencies lines.... ALL of them “turned” under the guise of govt. service to “public” NASA alone— the muzzie in chief directed it not to explore space but to “reach out” to muslims for crying out loud.
He and valjar need to be dealt with... now. And for that matter the entire socialist neomarxians in the chi-town machine.
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