FEC fines law firm of Mich. lawyer over campaign donations to John Edwards’ 2004 campaign

FEC fines Fieger firm for fundraising violations

WASHINGTON — The law firm of a Michigan attorney has agreed to pay a $131,000 fine for campaign finance violations involving donations to former Sen. John Edwards’ 2004 presidential campaign.

The Federal Election Commission said the law firm of Geoffrey Fieger (FY’-ger) agreed to pay the fine after the commission found probable cause of campaign finance violations against the attorney, his firm and his law partner. The settlement was reached in October.

Fieger once represented assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian and lost a bid for Michigan governor in 1998.

Fieger and his law partner, Ven Johnson, were acquitted in 2008 in federal court of illegally funneling campaign money for the 2004 presidential race. Jurors said the government failed to prove the lawyer knew he was breaking the law.