CLC’s Trevor Potter Urges Senate to Safeguard FEC Independence in Response to New Trump Nominations

Date
Issues
Campaign Finance
The Rule of Law

WASHINGTON — On February 11, President Donald Trump announced that he sent nominations to the Senate to fill two vacant seats on the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Trevor Potter, president of Campaign Legal Center (CLC) and former Republican chairman of the Federal Election Commission, issued the following statement regarding the nominations and urging the Senate to ensure the FEC maintains its independence:

“President Trump has nominated Ashley Stow and Andrew Woodson to fill two of the four vacant seats on the Federal Election Commission (FEC), the federal agency dedicated solely to enforcing election laws. The FEC's critical role in protecting voters and maintaining a level playing field for political campaigns is as important as ever with midterm elections fast approaching.

“One year ago, President Trump issued an executive order (EO) in which he claimed to take control of all independent agencies, including the FEC. His EO purported to demand that the FEC conform its legal actions to President Trump's own interpretations of the law. For an agency whose role is to enforce the law against political candidates, parties, members of Congress and the president himself, this rejection of the agency's traditional and essential independence is unacceptable.

“It is therefore crucial that the Senate exercise its constitutional role to ensure that these and any future nominees to the FEC will fulfill their statutory obligation to ensure the agency's continued independence, even in the face of pressure from the very administration putting forth their nominations. The Senate should refuse to confirm any nominees who are unwilling to make this commitment to protect and preserve the FEC’s independence, even if that means the FEC remains inactive ahead of the midterms. The danger to our democracy in the absence of such a commitment is too great to risk.”

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The nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center advances democracy through law. We safeguard the freedom to vote, defend voters’ right to know who is spending money to influence elections, and work to ensure public trust in our elected officials.

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