FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC. 20463 February 7, 2018 President Donald J. Trump The White House 1600 Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: Serving the American people as a Commissioner of the Federal Election Commission has been a profound honor. However, I write to inform you that I will resign my post effective February 16, 2018. Over the past four years the Commission has several signi?cant achievements to its credit. As Chairman, I led two rulemakings to conform the Commission?s regulations to the Supreme Court?s decisions in Citizens United v. FEC and McCutcheon v. FEC, which clari?ed the rights of American citizens and organizations to express their political opinions. I also focused the Commission?s attention on the need to amend rules and policies applicable to political parties, including state and local parties, to make them more effective democratic institutions, although admittedly there is more work to be done on that subject. We issued several advisory opinions recognizing the use of new technologies to galvanize political participation, including Internet-based platforms that facilitate small political contributions and new digital mediums of exchange. Meanwhile, we restrained unlawful efforts to regulate, and in some cases censor, American citizens? political opinions on YouTube and Twitter, as well as the freedom of press outlets like Fox News and of Boston to make editorial decisions concerning their political coverage. The Commission launched a new website in 2016 that dramatically enhanced public transparency of campaign contributions and expenditures and, in the process, improved the agency?s information technology infrastructure. And the agency has continued to provide the public excellent compliance advice through its Information Division and Reports Analysis Division, while innovating a new Internet-based portal for citizens to obtain answers to their compliance questions. Most importantly, I have faithfully discharged my responsibility to balance the agency?s regulatory objectives with the First Amendment rights it regulates. Since the agency?s inception, the Federal Election Commission?s unique mandate to respect the core constitutional rights of citizens acting, speaking and associating for democratic purposes has provoked criticism from those who disagree with the balance drawn. Some would even prefer the Commission ignore the First Amendment altogether. But protecting First Amendment rights is an inherent part of the Commission?s mission. Thus, I have endeavored throughout my service to preserve the Constitutional right of American citizens to speak, hear, and think freely about their democracy. It has been my duty and privilege to defend this fundamental human freedom. Sincere! Le E. Goodman