Wicker has more than $275,000 in illegal contributions that he cannot spend in his account

Jackson, MS- Interim Senator Roger Wicker has violated another federal election law and the Musgrove campaign today filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission.

The FEC complaint is in reaction to Wicker's campaign finance filings which show that he has taken $209,100 in illegal, excessive campaign contributions that he must re-designate or return in order to comply with the law.

That money, combined with additional excessive contributions and other illegal contributions noted in a previously filed complaint means Roger Wicker has more than $275,000 cash on hand that he cannot spend and must return or re-designate.

"Roger Wicker has used every legal and illegal dirty trick in the book to save his desperate, failing campaign. It is time he comes clean. He should return and re-designate the money, and he had better not spend it illegally on this race," Tim Phillips, Musgrove for Senate campaign manager said. "We are filing an FEC complaint, though we all know the FEC is slow to react, but Wicker's illegal money will be judged in the court of public opinion."

October 20, 2008

Thomasenia Duncan, Esq.

General Counsel

Federal Election Commission

999 E Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20463

Re: Complaint against Roger Wicker and Wicker for Senate

Dear Ms. Duncan:

Pursuant to 2 U.S.C. § 437g(a)(1), I submit the following as a Complaint against Roger Wicker and Wicker for Senate, his principal campaign committee ("Wicker campaign").  Roger Wicker is a United States Senator from the State of Mississippi and is currently running for reelection in a special election to take place on November 4, 2008.

The record demonstrates that the Wicker campaign has accepted contributions in excess of the limits established by law from both individual contributors and political action committees ("PACs").  The majority of the excess contributions were originally designated for a potential runoff election that would have been held had none of the three original candidates in the special election obtained more than fifty percent of the vote.  However, the third candidate in the race, former United States Representative Ronnie Shows, withdrew on April 17, 2008, removing the potential for a runoff election.  The Wicker campaign continues to hold the funds collected for the runoff election, and has not notified the contributors of those funds that they are entitled to a refund or attempted to obtain a reattribution or redesignation of their contributions as required by law. 

The remaining contributions at issue in this complaint are simply in excess of the legal limits established for individuals and PACs.  As with the excess funds designated for the runoff election, the Wicker campaign is required to seek a redesignation or reattribution of these funds from the contributor, or to refund the excess.  It has not done so.  The Commission should act immediately to investigate this matter and to enjoin future violations of the law.