https://www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/show/as-2020-elections-near-fec-functions-are-limited-by-lack-of-commissioners?__twitter_impression=true
....."Ellen Weintraub:
Judy, the Federal Election Commission is the original follow-the-money agency.
We were set up in the aftermath of Watergate to make sure that the American people know who is funding the political campaigns that they are seeing every day.
Judy Woodruff:
So, normally, you're supposed to have, by law, six commissioners. You are down to three right now, a Democrat, a Republican, and an independent.
What does that mean in terms of what you were able to do and what you're not able to do?
Ellen Weintraub:
Well, the good news is that we have a terrific staff, and they are continuing to come to work and do their jobs every day, and most of the work does get done by the staff.
But the decisions that the agency has to make, those have to be made by a minimum of four commissioners. And, right now, as you pointed out, we only have three. We have roughly 250 enforcement matters that are in the — somewhere in the hopper, and we need commissioners present in order to conclude those matters and make decisions, so that these things aren't hanging over a politician's head, and the American people understand who has violated the law and who hasn't.
Judy Woodruff:
Well, what's an example of something that's not getting done?
Ellen Weintraub:
Well, we have over 30 complaints that are sitting in the House right now that allege foreign national money being spent in our elections.
That is flatly illegal. And they are important allegations that the commission has previously said they would prioritize. But we can't address them right now. And we don't know. Some of them may be completely unsubstantiated, but some of them may be serious allegations that require investigation or sanction."....(more)
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