U.S. Panel Votes to Deny Tax Money for Sharpton

[CShine]

The Federal Election Commission voted to block a payment of matching funds to the Rev. Al Sharpton's presidential campaign after it had previously approved giving him the money, nearly $80,000, commission officials said yesterday. The decision may be the first time the commission has rescinded a decision to pay matching funds.

The commission ruled that Mr. Sharpton violated campaign-finance laws by spending too much of his own money on his race and therefore was never actually eligible to receive matching funds. The decision, reached Thursday, means Mr. Sharpton will not receive any more tax money and may be asked to repay the $100,000 that was already paid, a commission spokesman said.

"I honestly don't remember of another case where a candidate was found eligible then decertified because of problems complying with the law," said Larry Noble, a former general counsel to the commission who worked with the panel for 23 years.

Mr. Sharpton, who has abandoned his long-shot bid for the Democratic nomination, lashed out at the commission, accusing it of holding him to a different standard than other candidates. He said that he was being penalized for following the commission's recommendations and that he planned to challenge the decision in court.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/01/politics/campaign/01SHAR.html