Dan Backer

Dan Backer, Esq. is the lead attorney for DB Capitol Strategies PLLC where he focuses on political action committee treasury and Federal Election Commission compliance law.

Backer is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst and George Mason University School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in Virginia and the District of Columbia, as well as before the U.S. District Court for both the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia. In 2009, Dan earned the Professional Lobbying Certification (PLC) from the American League of Lobbyists.

According to the DB Capitol Strategies website, Backer is treasurer for numerous political committees and organizations, including National Defense PAC, One Nation PAC, Combat Veterans for Congress PAC, ZetePAC, Peach Tea PAC, and TheTeaParty.net.

DB Capitol Strategies PLLC
DB Capitol Strategies PLLC provides legal, strategic, and operational guidance to political organizations with a focus on PAC treasury and FEC reporting and compliance through its principal attorney, Dan Backer.

Carey, Eustis & National Defense PAC v. Federal Election Commission
In January 2011, Dan Backer, Esq. of DB Capitol Strategies PLLC filed suit against the Federal Election Commission on behalf of National Defense PAC, Rear Admiral James J. Carey [Ret.], and Kelly S. Eustis "to protect the free speech rights of individuals - ensuring that Americans remain free to contribute to political groups who speak out about issues and candidates without government imposed limits."

The basis for the case was Kelly Eustis wanting to give $10,000 to National Defense PAC (NDPAC) to run attack ads against Democratic Representative Anthony Wiener. Since NDPAC was a traditional PAC, not a Super PAC, Eustis could only give $5,000, the maximum acceptable contribution. Plaintiffs argued that NDPAC should not have to create a separate entity to exercise its constitutional rights.

On June 14, 2011, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia gave a preliminary injunction that sided with NDPAC so long as the PAC can "proportionately pay" its administrative costs.

The Federal Election Commission conceded defeat on August 19, 2011 and entered into a stipulated judgment that grants the plaintiffs the relief they sought. The suit was seen as a victory for free speech.

Related SourceWatch articles

 * National Defense PAC
 * One Nation PAC

External resources

 * DB Capitol Strategies