19 May 2009 // Washington, D.C. – Today, the FEC dismissed CREW’s complaint against Governor Sarah Palin and the Republican National Committee for spending approximately $150,000 on clothing for the governor and her family. The FEC held that the clothing purchases were permitted as “coordinated party expenditures.” Although CREW had argued that the purchases violated the prohibition on the personal use of campaign funds, the FEC found that because this prohibition does not apply to party funds, the ban did not apply. In effect, the FEC is claiming its hands were tied and it could not penalize the RNC or Governor Palin.

This means that the FEC will allow political parties to buy candidates whatever they want at whatever cost, and that the candidates and their families may keep these purchases. Despite the fact that Governor Palin and the RNC claimed the clothing would be donated to charity, it is not clear this ever happened, and in any event, according to the FEC, the law does not require it. Notably, this past March the FEC asked Congress to enact legislation to extend the personal use prohibition to all political committees, including party committees and leadership PACs. Unsurprisingly, Congress has yet to act.

Click here to read the FEC’s decision. [1]

Click here to read CREW's original FEC complaint. [2]