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      FEC Record: Litigation
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      Giffords sues Commission alleging failure to act in a timely manner (D.D.C. 2019) 1:19-cv-01192

FEC Record: LitigationGiffords sues Commission alleging failure to act in a timely manner (D.D.C. 2019) 1:19-cv-01192May 8, 2019 On April 24, 2019, Giffords, a 501(c)(4) organization founded and led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, filed suit in the U. S. District Court for the District of Columbia to challenge the Commission’s alleged failure to act on its administrative complaints. According to the court filing, the Giffords organization has filed four separate administrative complaints over the past nine months alleging that the National Rifle Association (NRA) violated the Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act) by using shell corporations and common vendors to coordinate expenditures with at least seven federal candidates. Giffords claims none of the complaints have been acted upon, and that more than 120 days have passed since their filing. The Act permits those aggrieved by a “failure of the Commission to act” on an administrative complaint during the 120-day period after its filing to file a petition with the Court. Giffords asks the Court to declare the Commission’s failure to act on its administrative complaints contrary to law under 52 U.S.C. § 30109(a)(8)(A). Giffords also seeks an order requiring the Commission to conform with that declaration within 30 days. Editor's Note: On September 30, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued an Orderdenying the Commission’s Motion to Dismiss, or in the Alternative, for Summary Judgment and granting plaintiff’s Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment. Resources Giffords v. FEC litigation page
 Author
          Christopher BergCommunications Specialist


Read next: Brown, et al. v. FEC challenges application of electioneering communications statute to commercial advertisements (D.D.C. 19-1021)
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This information is not intended to replace the law or to change its meaning, nor does this information create or confer any rights for or on any person or bind the Federal Election Commission or the public. The reader is encouraged also to consult the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (52 U.S.C. 30101 et seq.), Commission regulations (Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations), Commission advisory opinions and applicable court decisions.


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