ACU Files FEC Complaint Against MoveOn.org Political Action and the New York Times Company For Committing Clear Violations of Federal Election Laws

Alexandria, VA – American Conservative Union (ACU) chairman David A. Keene announced today that ACU has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) against MoveOn.org Political Action and the New York Times Company for violation of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended and the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002.

On Monday, September 10, 2007, MoveOn sponsored a full page advertisement in the New York Times attacking General David Petraeus prior to his report to Congress regarding the status of the United States military operations in Iraq. The open rate for a full page black and white advertisement in the New York Times is $181,692. MoveOn only paid $65,000 for the ad, according to multiple press reports.

The New York Times Company’s “discount” is in effect a corporate soft money contribution to a federal political committee. MoveOn’s acceptance of this corporate soft money contribution exceeds federal contributions and is a clear violation of FEC laws.

 “ACU demands a full and thorough investigation of the cost of the Ad and the discount given by the New York Times Company to MoveOn.org Political Action, for payment by MoveOn of the usual and normal charge for the costs of the Ad and the requisite civil money penalty for violation of federal law by each of the Respondents,” ACU Chairman David A. Keene stated in the FEC complaint.