• conduct any inquiry or preliminary investigation in a
matter involving a possible campaign financing offense
(including Title 18 offenses);
• issue a subpoena or search warrant in connection with a
campaign financing matter;
• present evidence involving a campaign financing matter
to a grand jury;
• file a criminal charge involving a campaign financing
crime; or
• present an indictment to a grand jury that charges a
campaign financing crime.
As is the case with election frauds, it also recommended
that the Section be consulted with respect to sentencing matters
during any plea negotiations in order to ensure consistency with
similar cases.
The Public Integrity Section and its Election Crimes
Branch are available to assist United States Attorneys’ Offices and
FBI field offices in handling election crime matters. This
assistance includes evaluating election crime allegations,
structuring investigations, and drafting indictments and other
pleadings. The Election Crimes Branch also serves as the point
of contact between the Department of Justice and the FEC, which
share enforcement jurisdiction over federal campaign financing
violations. Finally, Section attorneys may be available to provide
operational assistance in election crime investigations and trials.
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