Malliotakis violated the law by failing to include key information about who is behind her ads
End Citizens United (ECU) today filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) against Nicole Malliotakis, Republican candidate in NY-11. The complaint states that Malliotakis’ campaign violated rules by failing to include full disclaimers in two television ads. The FEC requires written and audio disclaimers for television advertisements in order to supply viewers a source for political ads.
Click here to view the complaint.
“Nicole Malliotakis’ blatant disregard for the law highlights once again that she is a fraud,” said ECU President Tiffany Muller. “She sided with drug companies as the opioid epidemic worsened in New York, is being bankrolled by corporate special interests, and now explicitly did not comply with simple requirements in her political advertisements that are meant to give voters necessary information. We urge the FEC to immediately investigate this violation of the law.”
The violation:
Respondents have failed to fully comply with one of these basic requirements. The disclaimer rules are designed precisely to ensure the American people are aware of who is sponsoring political advertisements. However, in both “Hypocrite” and “Work Boots,” Respondents have completely ignored the requirement to include a written statement at the end of the advertisement that the candidate has approved the communication. Simply including a written paid for by disclaimer does not comply with all of the requirements of the law. This failure to include the full disclaimer is clearly a violation of the law.
The Commission requires written and audio disclaimers for television advertisements in order to provide an important notice to viewers regarding the source of political advertisements. To that end, the Act and Commission regulations are clear; Respondents are required to include a specific written disclaimer at the end of their advertisement. Respondents failed to satisfy this basic requirement, in clear violation of the Act.
ECU has four million members nationwide, including 5,000 in NY-11, and is entirely grassroots-funded with an average donation of just $14.
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