Paralyzed by resignations

FEC paralyzed by resignations as 2020 approaches

By MAGGIE SEVERNS

The federal agency regulating campaign finance has been rendered powerless heading into the 2020 election cycle, with the resignation of another commissioner leaving it unable to punish violations of election law.

Matthew Petersen, a commissioner at the Federal Election Commission for 11 years, plans to leave his post on Aug. 31. There are normally six FEC commissioners, but Petersen’s departure will bring the already depleted board down to three. And because FEC regulations require four or more commissioners to vote on enforcement actions, new regulations and other matters brought before the body, it will function only on an administrative level without new appointees from President Donald Trump.

Even prior to Petersen’s departure, the commission struggled agree on key issues, including how to handle cybersecurity and foreign election interference. The committee has also deadlocked on many questions regarding donor disclosure, coordination between candidates and outside groups, and other issues in recent years, with three Democratic-aligned commissioners often voting on one side and three GOP-aligned commissioners on the other side.

Trump has meanwhile left one commissioner’s seat, that of former Commissioner Ann Ravel, vacant for2½ years.

The FEC was similarly short-staffed in 2008, and it took some small steps to help the agency govern better, publishing rules that allowed the commission to vote on some minor issues with only three members.

Petersen has not announced his plans for the future. He was nominated for a federal judgeship by Trump in 2018, but he withdrew from the nomination after struggling to answer questions about the law during his nomination hearing.

"I had hoped my nearly two decades of public service might carry more weight than my two worst minutes on television,” Petersen wrote in a letter withdrawing his nomination. “However, I am no stranger to political realities."

Petersen’s departure was first reported by the Washington Examiner.