President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign has been fined $375,000 by the Federal Election Commission for reporting violations related to a set of donations received during the final days of the campaign. The fines are among the largest ever levied on a presidential campaign by the FEC and stem from a series of missing notices for nearly 1,200 contributions totaling nearly $1.9 million. Campaigns are required to file reports within 48 hours on donations of $1,000 or more received during the final 20 days of the campaign. The fine was detailed in a conciliation agreement sent to Sean Cairncross, chief counsel for the Republican National Committee.
Obama campaign spokeswoman Katie Hogan said the 2008 campaign had more than 3 million donors and “the very few outstanding questions have now all been resolved.” Obama’s campaign raised nearly $750 million from 2007 to 2008.
The fines, first reported by Politico, are among the largest assessed on a presidential campaign, according to the FEC. Al Sharpton’s 2004 campaign was fined more than $200,000, and Kansas Sen. Bob Dole’s 1988 presidential campaign paid a $100,000 fine.
Among other large fines involving political organizations, liberal group America Coming Together was fined $775,000 in 2007.
Full Article: Federal Election Commission fines Obama ’08 campaign $375,000 over donations | al.com.