FEC Complaint Calls for Investigation of Possible Illegal Soft Money Solicitations by Vitter Super PAC

Democracy 21 joined with the Campaign Legal Center to file a complaint urging the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to investigate possible illegal soft money solicitations for the Super PAC of Senator David Vitter (R-LA) in excess of federal contribution limits and from sources prohibited from contributing in federal elections.

The complaint alleges that Senator Vitter, his fundraisers and the Fund for Louisiana’s Future (FLF) made solicitations far in excess of the $5,000 federal contribution limit without disclaimers required by law for solicitations made by federal candidates and officeholders.  FLF supports both Senator Vitter’s 2016 Senate reelection bid as well as a Louisiana gubernatorial run in 2015 and thus serves as both a federal and a state political committee.  Lisa Spies, the D.C. Finance Director for Senator Vitter, Courtney Guastella, are the only paid consultants for both the Senator’s campaign committee and FLF which has raised more than $1.5 million with many five- and six-figure contributions from corporations as well as individuals.

According to Donald Simon, counsel to Democracy 21:

This complaint illustrates the dangerous relationship between a candidate and a Super PAC set up exclusively for that candidate. Here, Senator Vitter solicited soft money for that Super PAC in violation of federal law. The FEC should act decisively to declare it is illegal for a federal candidate to solicit soft money for his Super PAC, whether directly or through his agents.

Federal candidates and their agents may not solicit funds that exceed $5,000 and may not solicit funds from corporations or federally prohibited sources.  Since these solicitations are not solely in connection with an election for state or local office and FLF is seeking contributions that do not comply with federal limits, it is reasonable to believe that a violation has taken place.