Review a biography and the voting record of Montana Senator Conrad Burns.
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Eight Years, and the Case Isn't Resolved
Sen. Conrad Burns has been reelected since the Federal Election Commission received a complaint about his 1988 campaign.
November 1988
Republican Conrad Burns is elected to the U.S. Senate from Montana.
July 1990
Kelly Addy (D), speaker pro tempore of the Montana House, files complaint with the FEC alleging election law violations in the Burns race.
December 1990
Common Cause, which lobbies for campaign reform, files a complaint with the FEC, making similar allegations.
May 1991
FEC commissioners vote to open an investigation.
July 1994
FEC general counsel recommends that commissioners find probable cause to believe violations occurred in the race.
August 1994
FEC takes up the Montana race but after 15 votes cannot agree to pursue an enforcement action. They finally vote 5 to 0 to drop the case.
September 1994
Common Cause and Addy sue in U.S. District Court in Washington, seeking judicial review of the FEC's inaction.
November 1994
Conrad Burns is reelected to the Senate.
March 1996
U.S. District Judge Norma Holloway Johnson sends the case back to the commission for more consideration.
May 1996
Common Cause appeals part of Johnson's decision.
January 1997
Lawyers for Common Cause and the Justice Department, representing the FEC, argue before the U.S. Court of Appeals.
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