United States v. Jack P. Insco

DYER, Circuit Judge:

Jack Insco, an unsuccessful Republican candidate for Congress in the 1972 general election, was convicted in a bench trial of violating 18 U.S.C.A. § 612, which proscribes the publication or dissemination of anonymous written campaign materials in federal elections, for printing and distributing certain bumper stickers which did not contain the statutorily-prescribed attribution clause. We reverse.

I

In the fall of 1972, Insco was campaigning against the Democratic Party’s nominee, William Gunter, for the congressional seat from Florida’s Fifth District. During the final…