The American Democracy Legal Fund has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission against former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore and his principal campaign committee, Gilmore for America LLC, for violating the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.
On July 7, 2015, former Virginia Governor James ‘Jim’ Gilmore said he was running for president and planning for a formal announcement the first week of August. On July 11, 2015, after publicizing that he would formally announce he was running for president, Mr. Gilmore visited New Hampshire where he was the guest speaker at a Hillsborough County Republican Committee event. On July 16, 2015, Mr. Gilmore appeared on CNN’s New Day program with the banner, “Jim Gilmore to Join Crowded GOP Field,” on the screen during his segment. When asked about why he was running for president Mr. Gilmore responded, “[i]t’s not what I want to be, it’s what I want to do.” When asked why he was waiting until August to officially announce his candidacy, Mr. Gilmore responded, “[M]ainly regulations and just getting straight with the Federal Election Commission and doing all of that. I do intend to enter the race, either at the end of July or beginning of August.”
Accordingly, Mr. Gilmore met the definition of candidate at least as early as July 7, 2015 and was required to file and report as such with the FEC by July 22, 2015. By filing on July 29, 2015, Mr. Gilmore violated the Act and FEC regulations by not registering his Statement of Candidacy within fifteen days after he decided to become a candidate for federal office.
The complaint is available in full here.
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