Cause of Action filed a complaint before the Federal Election Commission (FEC) today alleging that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Andrew Tobias, treasurer of the DNC,  violated the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) and FEC regulations when they reimbursed the Department of Health and Human Services for Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ 2012 Hatch Act violation.

In September, the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) found Sebelius guilty of violating the Hatch Act, but claimed that the DNC’s reimbursement meant that the “issue had been resolved.”  Cause of Action has found that the DNC failed to properly disclose its reimbursements as independent expenditures, therefore violating FECA.

Cause of Action’s investigation also raises the question as to whether Sebelius’ use of her official capacity to support President Obama’s re-election was paid for by a loan from the United States, later reimbursed by the DNC, but nevertheless in potential violation of 18 U.S.C. § 595.

Cause of Action is also filing a complaint with OSC requesting an investigation into Sebelius’s aide, AJ Pearlman. The complaint states that though Pearlman’s expenses were reimbursed, she was never investigated for potential violations of the law – including a violation of the Hatch Act.

Please see these important documents below:

FEC complaint against the DNC 

FEC complaint exhibits

OSC complaint against AJ Pearlman

 Full Press Release