Washington, DC – The Institute for Free Speech released the following statement in response to today’s announcement that President Donald Trump has re-nominated attorney Trey Trainor to the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The six-member FEC has lacked a quorum since September 1 due to three vacancies.
“I commend President Trump for moving to fill a vacancy at the Commission. Trey Trainor is a well-qualified practitioner, and the Senate should act quickly on his nomination. The FEC needs a quorum so it can advise speakers on how to comply with our insanely complex campaign finance laws,” said Institute for Free Speech Chair Bradley A. Smith.
“We need five more nominees to provide the FEC with fresh blood and replace the commissioners who are long past their terms. The law says commissioners serve for one six-year term, not for decades. One commissioner, Ellen Weintraub, is in her 18th year on the FEC,” Smith said.
The Institute for Free Speech has long called for a fresh slate of commissioners at the FEC. Its three remaining commissioners have all served for years past their original terms. Nominating new commissioners would help the FEC take action on long-pending matters, such as a rulemaking clarifying disclaimer requirements for online ads.
The Senate has scheduled a confirmation hearing on Trainor’s nomination for March 10 at 11 AM in the Russell Senate Office Building, Room 301. Trainor was first nominated to the FEC in 2017, but the Senate did not act on his nomination at that time.
About the Institute for Free Speech
The Institute for Free Speech is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that promotes and defends the First Amendment rights to freely speak, assemble, publish, and petition the government. Originally known as the Center for Competitive Politics, it was founded in 2005 by Bradley A. Smith, a former Chairman of the Federal Election Commission. The Institute is the nation’s largest organization dedicated solely to protecting First Amendment political rights.
