FEC fines Martinez $99,000 for breaking election law in 2004

28 Oct 2008 // WASHINGTON -- Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida has agreed to pay $99,000 in fines for breaking several federal election laws -- including accepting $313,000 in excessive contributions -- during his 2004 campaign, according to newly-released records.

The penalty ends years of investigation of the Republican senator by the Federal Election Commission, which announced several violations last year after an audit of his campaign. His other violations include not filing information about big donors about two-dozen times and improperly reporting proceeds from joint fundraisers he held with other political committees -- to a tune of almost $320,000.

He’ll also have to pay $11,500 to the U.S. Treasury for “unresolved excessive contributions,” which Martinez was not able to return in what the FEC calls “a reasonable amount of time.”

The freshman senator has long contended that the violations were the result of poor bookkeeping, but has cooperated with investigators. That help may have spared him from a higher fine -- as the FEC noted that in its letter to Martinez’s attorney.

“In considering the appropriate civil penalty in this matter, the Commission has found mitigating circumstances, including the (Martinez) Committee’s cooperation during the audit process,” wrote FEC officials.

Still, the penalty is a sharp rebuke for a politician who recently served as chairman of the Republican National Committee.