CAMPAIGN ’88 : 1984 Glenn Campaign to Pay $30,000 Penalty

The 1984 presidential campaign committee of Sen. John Glenn (D-Ohio) has agreed to pay a $30,000 civil penalty to settle alleged violations of federal election law, officials said Monday in Washington.

The Federal Election Commission said it had found probable cause to believe that the Glenn committee and its treasurer, William R. White, accepted excessive campaign contributions, misreported cash and spending levels and exceeded spending limits.

A voluntary “conciliation agreement” between the FEC and the committee contained allegations that the Glenn committee accepted $81,326 in excessive campaign contributions and exceeded presidential primary spending limits in Iowa by $149,439 and in New Hampshire by $219,348.

The agency said the committee apparently accepted excess contributions from 126 individuals, seven partnerships and four political committees. It said that, although the committee issued $51,676 in refunds and legally “reattributed” $30,025 to other donors, the actions were not taken in a timely manner.

The committee had argued that the law allows it to determine whether a contribution is legal and gives it a “reasonable time” to refund any amounts exceeding the limit. It said it proceeded with “reasonable diligence” in making that determination and issued the refunds in a reasonable time.

The FEC also charged that the committee understated spending and overstated its cash on hand between April, 1983, and March, 1984, in its reports to the FEC.