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

Today, the Campaign Legal Center, joined by Democracy 21, filed 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.

“Senator Vitter’s fundraisers seem to have ignored the rules that prohibit a Senator from soliciting unlimited soft money contributions for a Super PAC supporting the candidate,” said Larry Noble, Of Counsel to the Campaign Legal Center. “Instead, they are using him to solicit contributions for FLF in excess of $5,000, requesting $25,000 and even $100,000 contributions without ever stating that the Senator is allowed to only solicit contributions that comply with federal limits and source prohibitions.”

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.

To read the complaint filed today by the Campaign Legal Center and Democracy 21, click here.