FEC Complaint Calls for Investigation of Possible Illegal Contributions & Coordination by Montana Congressional Candidate & Super PAC He Founded

Democracy 21 joined with the Campaign Legal Center in urging the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to investigate possible illegal in-kind contributions and coordination between Montana congressional candidate Ryan Zinke and the Super PAC he formed and that now supports his candidacy.  The complaint, based on published reports, points to the Special Forces for America’s (SOFA) use of photographs that appear to have come from the Zinke campaign in television advertisements aired in support of Zinke’s candidacy.  SOFA has spent more than $50,000 distributing the pro-Zinke ads since Zinke launched his campaign in October.

Photos of the candidate used extensively in SOFA’s advertisements appear to be from the same photo shoot as nearly identical photos posted on the Zinke campaign’s Facebook page.  The photos appear onscreen for more than half of two different television advertisements aired by SOFA in support of Zinke.  Federal law treats any funds spent by an outside group to republish candidate campaign materials as an in-kind contribution from the outside group to the candidate.  Super PACs like SOFA are prohibited from making such in-kind contributions to candidates.  And candidates are prohibited from coordinating with Super PACs in the republication of campaign materials.