FEC v. Johnson, Case 2:15-cv-00439 (D. Utah, 6/19/2015) (New)

On June 19, 2015, the Commission filed suit against Utah businessman Jeremy Johnson alleging that he knowingly and willfully violated the Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act) by using straw donors to exceed the contribution limits. The FEC seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as appropriate civil penalties against Mr. Johnson.

Background

The Commission's complaint alleges that during the 2009-2010 election cycle, Jeremy Johnson made contributions to three federal candidates that exceeded applicable limits and were made in the names of other persons. Over the course of the election cycle, Johnson contributed through straw donors approximately $100,000 to Mark Shurtleff's United States Senate campaign, about $50,000 to Mike Lee's Senate campaign, and about $20,000 to then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's re-election campaign. In the process, he advanced or reimbursed approximately $170,000 to the straw donors he recruited to contribute to the campaigns.

In 2009, Johnson met with John Swallow, Utah's Chief Deputy Attorney General and a fundraiser for the Shurtleff campaign. Johnson offered to write a check for Shurtleff's campaign in an amount that would exceed the Act's limits. Mr. Swallow explained the statutory contribution limit that applied to federal campaigns. Johnson then entered into arrangements or understandings with friends, family members, and business associates that they would contribute funds to Shurtleff's campaign and that he would supply them with the funds for those contributions, which collectively amounted to approximately $100,000.

In 2010, Johnson used a similar arrangement to contribute approximately $50,000 to Mike Lee's Senate campaign, and approximately $20,000 to Reid's campaign. Johnson made these contributions voluntarily and with an awareness that they were unlawful.

Administrative complaint

The Act and Commission regulations limit the amount individuals can contribute to federal candidates and further state that “no person shall make a contribution in the name of another person,” nor may any person “knowingly help or assist” any person in making a contribution in the name of another. 52 U.S.C. §§ 30116(a)(1)(A) and 30122, 11 CFR 110.1(b) and 110.4(b)(iii). During the 2009-10 election cycle, the limit on an individual's contributions to a federal candidate was $2,400 per election.

On June 30, 2014, the Commission received an administrative complaint alleging, among other things, that Johnson used the names of others to contribute $50,000 to the Lee Senate campaign. The complaint provided the names of straw donors as well as the details of Mr. Swallow's discussions with Johnson. After investigation, the FEC found reason to believe that Johnson had knowingly and willfully violated 52 U.S.C. § 30116(a)(1)(A) and § 30122 by making excessive contributions in the names of others.

The FEC notified Mr. Johnson of its findings and endeavored to correct his violations through informal methods of conference, conciliation, and persuasion. Unable to secure an acceptable conciliation agreement, the FEC authorized filing suit against Johnson. The Commission seeks a declaration that Johnson's contributions were violations of 52 U.S.C. § 30116(a)(1)(A) and § 30122. The FEC further seeks a permanent injunction against similar future violations by Mr. Johnson, and appropriate civil penalties.

Resources:

• FEC v. Johnson litigation page