(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch, the public interest group that fights government corruption, reacted today to reports that the Federal Election Commission, in response to a Judicial Watch complaint, has fined Senator Hillary Clinton’s campaign group $35,000 for failing to accurately report $721,895 in contributions from former Judicial Watch client Peter Paul. The Clinton group had a “reasonable opportunity” to contest the charges presented in the Judicial Watch complaint and instead opted to sign a “conciliation agreement” with the FEC.
In its investigation, the FEC reportedly found “there was probable cause to believe New York Senate 2000 and Andrew Grossman, in his official capacity as [the campaign’s] treasurer violated 2 U.S.S Sec 434(b) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 and 11 D.F.R. Sec 102(c)(8)(i)(A).” The Clinton campaign was granted 30 days from the execution of the agreement on December 13 to amend its campaign filing and pay the $35,000 fine, or the FEC “may institute a civil action for relief in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.”
The FEC investigation relates to a fundraiser for New York Senate 2000, a joint funding committee consisting of Hillary Clinton’s campaign, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the New York State Democratic Committee. Contributions to the fundraiser, known as the “Hollywood Tribute to William Jefferson Clinton, were never properly reported to the FEC, or in filings lodged with the Secretary of the Senate. Judicial Watch filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission in 2001 and cooperated with the Justice Department in its investigation of the campaign finance scandal leading to the criminal indictment and trial of Clinton’s former National Finance Director David Rosen. Thousands of Judicial Watch supporters also petitioned the FEC to investigate the Clinton campaign finance scandal.
Judicial Watch has also filed a complaint with the Senate Select Committee on Ethics against Hillary Clinton for her role in the scandal. The complaint alleges that, at all relevant times, Senator Clinton and her campaign knew and understood well over $1 million was spent on the event.
“We are very pleased the FEC responded to our complaint and took this action against Hillary Clinton’s fundraising operation for flouting campaign finance laws,” said JW President Tom Fitton. “While the $35,000 fine amounts to a slap on the wrist when compared to the seriousness of the crimes committed, at least there has been some measure of accountability for Hillary Clinton and her campaign. The Senate Ethics Committee should follow up on the actions of the FEC and immediately and properly consider Judicial Watch’s complaint against Hillary Clinton.”
