26 U.S.C. § 9012 : US Code - Section 9012: Criminal penalties

Search 26 U.S.C. § 9012 : US Code - Section 9012: Criminal penalties

(a) Excess expenses
(1) It shall be unlawful for an eligible candidate of a political
party for President and Vice President in a presidential election
or any of his authorized committees knowingly and willfully to
incur qualified campaign expenses in excess of the aggregate
payments to which the eligible candidates of a major party are
entitled under section 9004 with respect to such election. It shall
be unlawful for the national committee of a major party or minor
party knowingly and willfully to incur expenses with respect to a
presidential nominating convention in excess of the expenditure
limitation applicable with respect to such committee under section
9008(d), unless the incurring of such expenses is authorized by the
Commission under section 9008(d)(3).
(2) Any person who violates paragraph (1) shall be fined not more
than $5,000, or imprisoned not more than one year or both. In the
case of a violation by an authorized committee, any officer or
member of such committee who knowingly and willfully consents to
such violation shall be fined not more than $5,000, or imprisoned
not more than one year, or both.
(b) Contributions
(1) It shall be unlawful for an eligible candidate of a major
party in a presidential election or any of his authorized
committees knowingly and willfully to accept any contribution to
defray qualified campaign expenses, except to the extent necessary
to make up any deficiency in payments received out of the fund on
account of the application of section 9006(c), or to defray
expenses which would be qualified campaign expenses but for
subparagraph (C) of section 9002(11).
(2) It shall be unlawful for an eligible candidate of a political
party (other than a major party) in a presidential election or any
of his authorized committees knowingly and willfully to accept and
expend or retain contributions to defray qualified campaign
expenses in an amount which exceeds the qualified campaign expenses
incurred with respect to such election by such eligible candidate
and his authorized committees.
(3) Any person who violates paragraph (1) or (2) shall be fined
not more than $5,000, or imprisoned not more than one year, or
both. In the case of a violation by an authorized committee, any
officer or member of such committee who knowingly and willfully
consents to such violation shall be fined not more than $5,000, or
imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
(c) Unlawful use of payments
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person who receives any payment
under section 9006, or to whom any portion of any payment received
under such section is transferred, knowingly and willfully to use,
or authorize the use of, such payment or such portion for any
purpose other than -
(A) to defray the qualified campaign expenses with respect to
which such payment was made, or
(B) to repay loans the proceeds of which were used, or
otherwise to restore funds (other than contributions to defray
qualified campaign expenses which were received and expended)
which were used, to defray such qualified campaign expenses.
(2) It shall be unlawful for the national committee of a major
party or minor party which receives any payment under section
9008(b)(3) to use, or authorize the use of, such payment for any
purpose other than a purpose authorized by section 9008(c).
(3) Any person who violates paragraph (1) shall be fined not more
than $10,000, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
(d) False statements, etc.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly and willfully -

(A) to furnish any false, fictitious, or fraudulent evidence,
books, or information to the Commission under this subtitle, or
to include in any evidence, books, or information so furnished
any misrepresentation of a material fact, or to falsify or
conceal any evidence, books, or information relevant to a
certification by the Commission or an examination and audit by
the Commission under this chapter; or
(B) to fail to furnish to the Commission any records, books, or
information requested by it for purposes of this chapter.
(2) Any person who violates paragraph (1) shall be fined not more
than $10,000, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
(e) Kickbacks and illegal payments
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly and willfully
to give or accept any kickback or any illegal payment in connection
with any qualified campaign expense of eligible candidates or their
authorized committees. It shall be unlawful for the national
committee of a major party or minor party knowingly and willfully
to give or accept any kickback or any illegal payment in connection
with any expense incurred by such committee with respect to a
presidential nominating convention.
(2) Any person who violates paragraph (1) shall be fined not more
than $10,000, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
(3) In addition to the penalty provided by paragraph (2), any
person who accepts any kickback or illegal payment in connection
with any qualified campaign expense of eligible candidates or their
authorized committees, or in connection with any expense incurred
by the national committee of a major party or minor party with
respect to a presidential nominating convention shall pay to the
Secretary of the Treasury, for deposit in the general fund of the
Treasury, an amount equal to 125 percent of the kickback or payment
received.
(f) Unauthorized expenditures and contributions
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), it shall be unlawful for
any political committee which is not an authorized committee with
respect to the eligible candidates of a political party for
President and Vice President in a presidential election knowingly
and willfully to incur expenditures to further the election of such
candidates, which would constitute qualified campaign expenses if
incurred by an authorized committee of such candidates, in an
aggregate amount exceeding $1,000.
(2) This subsection shall not apply to (A) expenditures by a
broadcaster regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, or
by a periodical publication, in reporting the news or in taking
editorial positions, or (B) expenditures by any organization
described in section 501(c) which is exempt from tax under section
501(a) in communicating to its members the views of that
organization.
(3) Any political committee which violates paragraph (1) shall be
fined not more than $5,000, and any officer or member of such
committee who knowingly and willfully consents to such violation
and any other individual who knowingly and willfully violates
paragraph (1) shall be fined not more than $5,000, or imprisoned
not more than one year, or both.
(g) Unauthorized disclosure of information
(1) It shall be unlawful for any individual to disclose any
information obtained under the provisions of this chapter except as
may be required by law.
(2) Any person who violates paragraph (1) shall be fined not more
than $5,000, or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.