Coburn subject of watchdog citing

Organizers believe that the Federal Election Commission will be compelled to respond.

17 Feb 2007 // WASHINGTON -- A private watchdog group said Friday it has filed an official complaint with the Federal Election Commission against the 2004 campaign of U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., citing "violations" outlined in a previous FEC audit.

Tim Mooney, senior counsel for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, called the violations "egregious" and expressed hope the FEC would fine Coburn's campaign.

By filing an official complaint, Mooney said his group would be forcing the hand of the FEC, which already has the authority to launch its own investigation.

He said the FEC now would have to take a public position on the matter at some point.

Released in late January, the FEC audit found that Coburn's campaign accepted contributions that exceeded the legal limit, did not include information on certain contributors as required by law and failed to file proper paperwork on donations totaling $349,100.

"These laws are not optional," Mooney said, adding that someone running for Congress, which makes laws for others to follow, should be willing to follow the law, as well.

Coburn would not comment.

Joining the group as a co-complainant was Bruce Prescott, a Norman minister who is executive director of Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists and president of the Oklahoma Chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

"If candidates don't want to comply with the law, they shouldn't run for office," said Melanie Sloan, executive director for the group.

Sloan said the "FEC should come down hard" on campaigns that don't provide information required by law. "One has to wonder what these candidates are trying to hide from their constituents."

Coburn's well-known efforts on demanding more transparency in the appropriations process in Congress drew a compliment from another official with the group who suggested, however, he meet his own standard.

"Disclosure should begin at home," Naomi Seligman said.

The group also filed complaints with the FEC on two other lawmakers' campaigns.