WASHINGTON, March 11 (Reuters) – The federal election monitoring agency has imposed a record fine on the Super PAC, which backed former presidential candidate, Jeb Bush, Republican in 2016, and a company under Chinese control, according to a monitoring group that filed the original complaint.
The legal center of the campaign had asked the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to impose sanctions in 2016, after The Intercept reported that American Pacific International Capital, Inc. (APIC) had paid 1.3 million dollars upward right cap.
APIC issued a statement that it was a US company and voluntarily accepted the settlement with the FEC.
"The Commission has expressly acknowledged that the company did not knowingly or willfully violate US campaign finance laws," APIC said in a statement sent to Reuters. "American Pacific International Capital remains committed to complying with all laws and regulations relating to campaign financing."
However, the legal center of the campaign has called victory victory for transparency.
"Today's action is a rare and remarkable step on the part of the FEC, and a reminder that protecting our elections from foreign interference is in the vital interest of US national security" said Campaign Legal Center chairman Trevor Potter.
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Jeb Bush in the election campaign
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GREENVILLE, SC – SEPTEMBER 18: Former Florida governor and Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush addresses voters at Heritage Action Presidential Candidates' Forum on September 18, 2015 in Greenville, SC from South. Eleven Republican candidates each had twenty-five minutes to talk to voters Friday at Wellness Relief in the north of the state of South Carolina. (Photo by Sean Rayford / Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – JUNE 15: Former Florida governor Jeb Bush salutes the scene as he announces his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination at an event held at Miami-Dade College – Kendall Campus on June 15 2015 in Miami, Florida. Bush joins a list of Republican candidates to announce their intention to run against Democrats in the White House. (Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – SEPTEMBER 01: Republican presidential nominee and former Florida governor, Jeb Bush, speaks at a town hall meeting at the Progresiva Presbyterian School on September 1, 2015 in Miami, Florida. Jeb continues to campaign for the Republican nomination. (Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
MONKS, IA – AUGUST 14: The Republican presidential hopeful and former Florida governor, Jeb Bush (c), talks with the media as US Senator Chuck Grassley (left) and US Senator to the United States, Joni Ernst (right) (R-IA) to watch at the State Fair in Iowa on August 14, 2015 in Des Moines, Iowa. . Presidential candidates address Iowa State Fair participants at the presidential platform of the Des Moines Register. The state fair runs until August 23rd. (Photo by Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
MONKS, IA – AUGUST 14: Republican presidential candidate and former Florida governor, Jeb Bush (right) and Iowa governor, Terry Branstad, eat a pork chop on a stick at the tent of Iowa pork at the State Fair of Iowa on August 14, 2015 in Des Moines, Iowa. Presidential candidates address Iowa State Fair participants at the presidential platform of the Des Moines Register. The state fair runs until August 23rd. (Photo by Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
AMHERST, NH – JULY 4: Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush salutes his supporters at the July 4 parade in Amherst, New Hampshire. Bush is leading the poll for the 2016 presidential race with 14 other Republican candidates. (Photo by Kayana Szymczak / Getty Images)
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The CEF alleges that two Chinese citizens, Gordon Tang and Huaidan Chen, who are banned from donating to the campaign, channeled their contributions through APIC to avoid detection.
APIC was fined $ 550,000 for making contributions and fined $ 390,000 for Right to Rise for soliciting a contribution from a foreign country.
Federal law prohibits foreign nationals and foreign companies from contributing to campaigns or candidates in the United States.
The documents published by the legal center of the campaign do not involve Mr Bush, who has spent months before formally launching his fundraising campaign for the right to rise PAC.
Right to Rise has spent millions of dollars trying to elect President Bush. He eventually lost the Republican nomination contest to Donald Trump.
The PAC was dissolved after Bush's defeat. A representative could not be contacted for comment.
(Report by Ginger Gibson, edited by Jonathan Oatis)
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