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

FEC fines Martinez $99,000 for breaking election law in 2004
posted by Mark Matthews on Oct 28, 2008 1:26:15 PM
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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 senate campaign, according to newly-released records.

The Federal Election Commission levied the sentence after finding the Republican senator took 186 contributions that exceeded the $2,000 legal giving limit in 2004 and also failed to properly report proceeds from 26 big donors and four joint fundraising committees.

“The 2004 campaign brought in a large amount of resources in a very short period of time and accounting mistakes were made,” said Ben Ginsberg, a partner at Patton Boggs, the firm representing Martinez.

As part of his penalty, Martinez will have to pay an additional $11,500 to the U.S. Treasury for excessive contributions that he could not refund to donors in what the FEC calls a “reasonable” amount of time.

Martinez, who narrowly beat Democrat Betty Castor to win the seat, has long blamed the problems on poor bookkeeping. On Tuesday, he released a statement that tried to find a silver lining in the FEC fine, which follows an investigation that has lasted years.

“I am delighted this matter is closed,” Martinez said. “On learning of the issue shortly after the campaign, I immediately took steps to correct the situation and the campaign committee has been in full compliance with FEC regulations.”

That cooperation may have saved Martinez from a heftier penalty. In an eight-page letter sent to his attorney, the FEC noted that his help while it tried to untangle his 2004 campaign, which raised more than $12 million.

“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. And Democrats wasted no time in pouncing on the punishment.

“This is just a clear example that Mel Martinez is caught up in the Bush-style culture of corruption,” said Eric Jotkoff, a spokesman for the Florida Democratic Party.