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Federal Election Commission | United States of America

MUR #5789

BACARDI USA INC & MARTINEZ FOR SENATE

Summary

RESPONDENTS: Bacardi USA Inc.; Bacardi USA Inc PAC; Bill Nelson for U.S. Senate; Gagnon, Peggy; Higdon, Robert M.; Martinez for Senate; Watkins, Nancy H.

COMPLAINANT: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington

SUBJECT: Contributions-Prohibited; Contributions-Corporations; Reporting

DISPOSITION: The Commission decided by a vote of 5-0 to take the following actions in MUR 5789:1. Dismiss the allegation that Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. violated 2 U.S.C. § 441b and 11 C.F.R. § 114.2(f) by failing to obtain pre-payment for catering expenses and issue an admonishment.2. Find no reason to believe that Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. PAC and Robert Higdon, in his official capacity as treasurer, violated the Act.3. Find no reason to believe that Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. violated 2 U.S.C. § 441b and 11 C.F.R. § 114.2(f) by using a list of corporate vendors.4. Find no reason to believe that Martinez for Senate and Nancy H. Watkins, in her official capacity as treasurer, violated 2 U.S.C. § 441b by knowingly accepting prohibited contributions.5. Find no reason to believe that Bill Nelson for U.S. Senate and Peggy Gagnon in her official capacity as treasurer, violated 2 U.S.C. § 441b by knowingly accepting prohibited contributions. 6. Dismiss the allegation that Martinez for Senate violated 2 U.S.C. § 434(b)(3)(A) and 11 C.F.R. § 104.7(b) and issue an admonishment.7. Approve the Factual and Legal Analyses, as recommended in the First General Counsel's Report dated March 28, 2007 8. Approve the appropriate letters. 9.Close the file.

Disposition

Disposition Penalty Respondent Citation
No Reason to Believe Martinez for Senate 2 U.S.C. §434(b)(3)(A)
2 U.S.C. §441b
11 CFR 104.7(b)
Watkins, Nancy H. 2 U.S.C. §441b
Bacardi USA Inc. 2 U.S.C. §441b
11 CFR 114.2(f)
Bacardi USA Inc PAC
Bill Nelson for U.S. Senate 2 U.S.C. §441b
Gagnon, Peggy 2 U.S.C. §441b
Higdon, Robert M.

Documents

Type Date Document
Complaint, Responses, Designation of Counsel and Extensions of Time 12/14/2006 Response from Bill Nelson for US Senate and Peggy Gagnon, Treasurer 185 KB
12/01/2006 Response from Bacardi USA, Inc. PAC and Robert M. Higdon, Treasurer 256 KB
11/16/2006 Grant of Extension of Time to Bill Nelson for US Senate and Peggy Gagnon Treasurer 42 KB
11/14/2006 Designation of Counsel and Request for Extension of Time from Bill Nelson for US Senate and Peggy Gagnon, Treasurer 104 KB
11/13/2006 Request for Extension of Time from Martinez for Senate and Nancy H. Watkins, Treasurer 58 KB
11/01/2006 Grant of Extension of Time to Bacardi, Inc. PAC and Robert M. Higdon, Treasurer 41 KB
10/31/2006 Request for Extension of Time from Bacardi, Inc. PAC and Robert M. Higdon, Treasurer 50 KB
10/18/2006 Amended Complaint 2 MB
10/05/2006 Response from Martinez for Senate and Nancy H. Watkins, Treasurer 166 KB
09/28/2006 Response from Bacardi USA, Inc. PAC and Robert M. Higdon, Treasurer 338 KB
09/18/2006 Grant of Extension of Time to Martinez for Senate and Nancy H. Watkins, Treasurer 42 KB
09/14/2006 Designation of Counsel and Request for Extension of Time from Martinez for Senate and Nancy H. Watkins, Treasurer 93 KB
08/25/2006 Grant of Extension of Time to Bacardi USA, Inc. PAC and Robert M. Higdon, Treasurer 42 KB
08/23/2006 Request for Extension of Time from Bacardi USA, Inc. PAC and Robert M. Higdon, Treasurer 56 KB
08/21/2006 Designation of Counsel from Bacardi USA Inc. PAC and Robert M. Higdon, Treasurer 53 KB
08/07/2006 Complaint 1 MB
General Counsel Reports, Briefs, Notifications and Responses 04/16/2007 Notification with Factual and Legal Analysis to Bacardi USA, Inc.; Bacardi USA, Inc. PAC and Robert Higdon in his official capacity as treasurer 387 KB
04/16/2007 Notification with Factual and Legal Analysis to Martinez for Senate and Nancy H. Watkins, in her official capacity as treasurer 365 KB
04/16/2007 Notification with Factual and Legal Analysis to Bill Nelson for US Senate and Peggy Gagnon, in her official capacity as treasurer 213 KB
04/16/2007 Notification to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington 96 KB
Certifications 04/03/2007 Bacardi USA, Inc.; Bacardi USA, Inc. PAC and Robert Higdon, in his official capacity as treasurer; Martinex for Senate and Nancy H. Watkins, in her official capacity as treasurer; Bill Nelson for US Senate and PEggy Gagnon, in her official capacity as treasurer. 81 KB

Participants

Relationship Name
Primary respondent Bacardi USA Inc.
Previous respondent Bacardi USA Inc PAC
Bill Nelson for U.S. Senate
Gagnon, Peggy
Higdon, Robert M.
Martinez for Senate
Watkins, Nancy H.
Complainant Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
Respondent's counsel Brown, Eric, Esq.
Ginsberg, Benjamin L., Esq.
Gordon, Rebecca H., Esq.
Reese, Ezra W., Esq.
Spulak, Thomas J., Esq.
Willard, Glenn M., Esq.
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