- Oct 17, 2011
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Federal Election Commission Loses Another Commissioner
Republican Trey Trainor confirmed he’s resigning, leaving the nation’s hobbled campaign finance enforcement agency even further from a quorum.The six-member FEC lost a quorum of commissioners back in April, effectively shuttering the agency responsible for interpreting and enforcing campaign finance laws, save for its most basic functions, such as publishing political committees’ campaign finance disclosures.
Trainor, the vice chair, leaves on Oct. 3, as first reported by the Washington Examiner. When he leaves, there will only be two members left on the commission, Democrats Dara Lindenbaum and Shana Broussard.
President Donald Trump has failed to nominate candidates to replace the two Republicans who resigned from the commission since January and the one Democrat — Chairwoman Ellen Weintraub — whom Trump ousted in February over her objection.
By law, a quorum of at least four FEC commissioners must be present for the agency to attend to its high-level duties. At present, the FEC can’t enforce campaign finance laws, formalize investigations, provide official legal guidance, defend itself in lawsuits or even conduct public meetings.
“There are no personnel announcements at this time, and any new nominee will be announced by President Trump,” White House spokesperson Harrison Fields told NOTUSin July.
