McCain campaign could face millions in fines

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) General Counsel Joe Sandler hosted a teleconference today to discuss his request that the Federal Election Commission (FEC) put off a vote on whether to release Sen. John McCain from the federal matching funds program. The DNC filed an administrative complaint regarding what they call McCain’s unilateral decision to withdraw from the program without filing a request form with the FEC. If the Arizona senator were found to to be in violation of the law, Sandler says the McCain campaign could face a fine of millions of dollars.

According to federal campaign finance law, candidates may participate in a program in which the federal government matches donations from private campaign contributors. In return the candidates agree to limit their spending according to a statutory formula. However, they can opt out of this program, releasing them from the spending limit, as both John McCain and Barack Obama have done.

A representative of the DNC said that the Committee is asking the FEC to change its agenda tomorrow, instead pursuing a full investigation into McCain’s withdrawal. Sandler said that the appropriate course of action, should it be found that McCain violated the law, is to make the information public in time for the election in addition to administering appropriate financial penalties. He went on to say that if McCain is found to be in violation of the law, he could face penalties amounting to tens of millions of dollars the senator has spent over the $57 million limit since his unilateral withdrawal.

Sandler said he feels that because this is a high-profile matter, the FEC can conduct a swift investigation and issue a ruling before November.