HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020! CRIS ERICSON is running for U.S. CONGRESS 2020! http://www.politics2020.org HAS YOUR FAVORITE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE JANUARY 2020 POLITICAL DEBATE? WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT? WILL THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY EVER BE ENTIRELY INCLUSIVE AND FAIR? Could Democratic Party candidates for President of the United States of America, who have been excluded from debates jointly controlled by PBS, join the complaint of an independent candidate for U.S. Congress against Vermont PBS? HAPPY NEW YEAR! WILL 2020 BRING FAIRNESS TO POLITICS? I want all Democratic Party candidates for President of the United States of America to sit up and pay attention because you know that PBS is constantly asking for viewer donations, and you know that PBS most likely contributes to the manipulation of the criteria for debate participation, so ask yourselves, how many of their donations are from foreigners, and how much influence do the foreigners have in the manipulation of criteria for debate participation? Isn't that foreign influence in our elections if that is what is going on, even if it is a small part? Cris Ericson filed her complaint to the Federal Election Commission last summer 2019 before the Republican Commissioner resigned, leaving the FEC without the necessary Quorum of four Commissioners required to vote to send a complaint to the U.S. Attorney General or to vote to dismiss a complaint or to vote to take action on a complaint. The FEC has 120 days to take action on a complaint, and if they do not do it within that time frame, then the party complaining can take legal action in the United States District Court in Washington, D.C. if they want to. Otherwise, they sit and wait for the Federal Election Commission to take action one way or another. The file cabinets at the FEC might be full of complaints asking questions about foreign influence in elections, but they might not be heard right now because there is no Quorum of four Commissioners to vote on the complaints that might exist or to vote to send them to the U.S. Attorney General. Isn't it important right now to get any questions about foreign influence in elections out for the public to hear? Cris Ericson's complaint has been sitting at the Federal Election Commission since last summer, well over 120 days, but she can not afford to take her complaint to the United States District Court in Washington, D.C. and the only way it could get there would be if other candidates for Federal Office "join" her complaint by filing with her to the United States District Court in Washington, D.C. with a pro-bono attorney representing them. Cris Ericson filed her complaint to the Federal Election Commission last summer 2019 before the Republican Commissioner resigned, leaving the FEC without the necessary Quorum of four Commissioners required to vote to send a complaint to the U.S. Attorney General or to vote to dismiss a complaint or to vote to take action on a complaint. When a complaint has just been sitting in some file drawer at the FEC for over 120 days, then the person complaining has a legal right to re-file the complaint with the United States District Court in Washington, D.C. where other candidates for federal office could "join" the complaint. How many Democratic Party candidates for President of the United States of America are now complaining about being excluded from political candidate debates which are partly funded by PBS, which receives federal tax dollars, and therefore should not exclude any candidate from debates? www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/top-democratic-candidates-ask-dnc-change-debate-qualifying-rules Could Democratic Party candidates for President of the United States, who are being excluded from political candidate debates by PBS, join a Vermont independent candidate who filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission against Vermont PBS for excluding her from 2018 political candidate debates even though she was on the official election ballot for the general election Nov. 6, 2018 in Vermont? Isn't the issue the same for all excluded candidates, that PBS is funded by tax dollars and therefore no candidate with ballot status, whether it is the primary election or the general election, should be excluded from any debates which are funded by PBS which is funded by taxpayer dollars? www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/top-democratic-candidates-ask-dnc-change-debate-qualifying-rules Democratic Presidential candidates are complaining about debate exclusion by PBS News Hour & Politico. What can be done? Maybe they could "join" Cris Ericson's complaint to the Federal Election Commission, which has not been resolved yet. Matter Under Review, M.U.R. #7619 Cris Ericson was excluded from Vermont PBS candidate debates in 2018 even though she was on the Nov. 6, 2018 Official Election Ballot in Vermont for United States Congress House of Representatives (and for Governor of Vermont as allowed by Vermont laws). PBS is involved in all of these candidate complaints of debate exclusion for federal office, so even though Cris Ericson is an independent candidate, maybe they should all join Cris Ericson's complaint! The FEC is like a secret court and the public can not know the outcome of the complaint until it is settled. When the complaint is settled, the public can search the outcome by searching "closed enforcement matters" and entering the "Matter Under Review" number: M.U.R. #7619 Confidentiality www.fec.gov/legal-resources/enforcement/complaints-process/how-to-file-complaint-with-fec/ To protect the interests of those involved in a complaint, the law requires that any Commission action on a MUR be kept strictly confidential until the case is resolved. These provisions do not, however, prevent a complainant or respondent from disclosing the substance of the complaint itself or the response to that complaint or from engaging in conduct that leads to the publication of information contained in the complaint. Nevertheless, information about a Commission notification of findings or about a Commission investigation may not be disclosed, unless the respondent waives his or her right to confidentiality in writing. Because the public has the right to know the outcome of any enforcement proceeding, a redacted case file is made available to the public in the Press Office and Office of Public Records within 30 days after the parties involved have been notified that the entire case has been closed. Closed case files are also available for review on the Commission's website. Federal Election Commission | United States of America The Federal Election Commission administers and enforces the laws that govern the financing of elections for federal office—the U.S. House, Senate and President. Other election-related laws are not within the FEC’s jurisdiction. Any person may file a complaint with the Commission if he or she believes a violation of the federal election campaign laws or FEC regulations has occurred or is about to occur. The Commission reviews every complaint filed. If the Commission finds that a violation occurred, possible outcomes can range from a letter reiterating compliance obligations to a conciliation agreement, which may include a monetary civil penalty. All FEC enforcement matters are kept confidential until they are resolved. www.fec.gov/legal-resources/enforcement/complaints-process/how-to-file-complaint-with-fec/ Office of General Counsel Federal Election Commission 1050 First Street, NE Washington, DC 20463 www.fec.gov/legal-resources/enforcement/complaints-process/how-to-file-complaint-with-fec/ In order for the complaint to be considered complete and proper, it should clearly recite the facts that show specific violations under the Commission's jurisdiction and clearly identify each person, committee, group, or entity that is alleged to have committed a violation (the "respondent"). Citations to the law and regulations are not required, but the complaint should include any documentation supporting the allegations and differentiate between statements based on the complainant's personal knowledge and those based on information and belief. Statements not based on personal knowledge should identify the source of the information. Cris Ericson http://politics2020.org