Ralph Nader Sues FEC for Failing to Investigate Democratic Party Failure to Report Contributions to Anti-Nader 2004 Legal Efforts
June 14th, 2010On June 11, Ralph Nader sued the Federal Election Commission in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. His case is Nader v FEC, 1:10-cv-989. The case was assigned to Judge Henry H. Kennedy, a Clinton appointee. Nader’s complaint is that the FEC never investigated the failure of the Democratic National Committee and its allies to report their expenses when they spent millions of dollars to keep him off the ballot in 2004. Also, certain legal corporations appear to have illegally made large contributions to the Democratic Party, by their legal services to the Democratic Party, in violation of federal campaign law. Here is the 31-page Complaint.
The FEC has broad discretion on whether to investigate a complaint. Nevertheless, the normal FEC procedure when a complaint is filed is to ask the other side to respond. When Nader complained to the FEC, the FEC didn’t even require a response from the Democratic Party or some of the other organizations complained about.
The FEC did nothing about Nader’s complaint for two years, and then dismissed it on the grounds that it had no information before it. Of course, its failure to have any information was due to its own failure to gather any information, or even to attempt to gather such information.
June 14th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
Go Ralph! Now let’s see if this judge has any backbone for justice. Sebastian McGarigle
June 14th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
Abolish the FEC!
June 14th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
God bless the honorable Ralph Nader!
June 14th, 2010 at 6:56 pm
It is no longer amazing Mr. Nader keeps fighting these uphill battles for the good of “our” republic. It is too bad so many “politicians” are allowed to be bought and continue to do harm instead of what is necessary for the well being of “our” country, hence the condition we are experiencing. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do Mr. Nader. May this action you have taken assist in healing some of our ills.
June 14th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
Give ‘em Hell Ralph!!!!
June 14th, 2010 at 10:24 pm
Thanks Richard for the article and for including copy of complaint. Love to read those.
Will we see the response ? SEb
June 15th, 2010 at 7:31 am
Texas Democrats See Red Over Green Party’s Ballot Coup
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703685404575306972348396344.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLTopStories
June 15th, 2010 at 7:32 am
Here is the correct link: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703685404575306972348396344.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLTopStories
June 15th, 2010 at 9:23 am
The FEC is a FECing joke. The “good ol’ boys” club. Shouldn’t they realise by now that Ralph is force to be reckoned with and not to be taken lighly. They think he’s going to give up and go away. Anyone who knows Ralph knows that the last thing he will ever do is give up and go away.
Stand with this man. After all, he’s been standing for all of us his entire life.
June 16th, 2010 at 10:43 am
Who else knows how to fight the most difficult battles? Who else gets the facts and presents them and never deceives us? If there is someone who even comes close to the courage and intellect of Ralph Nader, and works for the public interest unceasingly, let’s hear about it because we need more and more such people.
June 22nd, 2010 at 3:03 pm
Ralph Nader in 2012!