In this Jan. 11, 2017 photo, Trey Trainor, an Austin attorney specializing in election law who played a critical role for the Trump campaign at the Republican convention, poses with Trump campaign stickers at the Akerman Law Firm in Austin, Texas. The White House announced on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2017, that President Donald Trump has appointed Trainor to the Federal Election Commission. (Ralph Barrera/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump has selected a Texas attorney and supporter to join the beleaguered Federal Election Commission.
Trump appointed James "Trey" Trainor III, a well-known election-law specialist based in Austin, to the panel that monitors and polices federal campaign fundraising and spending. The position requires Senate confirmation.
Trainor would serve a term that expires in April 2021, according to a White House announcement Tuesday night.
The FEC is typically made up of six commissioners, and by law no more than three can be from the same political party. At least four votes are required to take action on any enforcement matter, explaining why the politically divided FEC has deadlocked repeatedly in recent years.
Trainor is pictured in a January Austin American-Statesman story grinning broadly and holding pro-Trump signs.
In this Jan. 11, 2017 photo, Trey Trainor, an Austin attorney specializing in election law who played a critical role for the Trump campaign at the Republican convention, speaks during an interview at the Akerman Law Firm in Austin, Texas. The White House announced on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2017, that President Donald Trump has appointed Trainor to the Federal Election Commission. (Ralph Barrera/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
The Associated Press
In this Jan. 11, 2017 photo, Trey Trainor, an Austin attorney specializing in election law who played a critical role for the Trump campaign at the Republican convention, poses with a Trump campaign sticker at the Akerman Law Firm in Austin, Texas. The White House announced on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2017, that President Donald Trump has appointed Trainor to the Federal Election Commission. (Ralph Barrera/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
The Associated Press
In this Feb. 3, 2015, photo, Trey Trainor, center, attorney for lobbyist James Frinzi, speaks with attorneys Clark Richards, left, and Dan Richards, right, who are representing Austin technology company 21CT in its lawsuit agains Frinzi, after a hearing at the Travis County Courthouse in Austin, Texas. The White House announced on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2017, that President Donald Trump has appointed Trainor, a well-known election-law lawyer based in Austin, to the Federal Election Commission. (Ralph Barrera/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
The Associated Press