MUR #6223

RESPONDENTS: St. John, Edward; Becker, Robert; Gish, Jeffrey; Maryland Republican State Central Committee; Maykrantz, Lawrence; Meros, Stanley; Rosenthal, Robert Christopher; Rubin, Elisabeth S.; St. John Properties, Inc.; Steele for Maryland, Inc.; Williamson, H. Richard; Wit, Gerard

COMPLAINANTS: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington; Sloan, Melanie; Weismann, Anne L.

SUBJECT: Contributions-In the name of another; Contributions-Corporations

DISPOSITION: The Commission decided by a vote of 5-0 to take the following actions in MUR 6223: 1. Accept the conciliation agreement with Edward St. John and St. John Properties, Inc., as recommended in the General Counsel?s Memorandum dated August 12, 2011. 2. Approve the appropriate letters. 3. Close the file.
The Commission decided by a vote of 6-0 to take the following actions in MUR 6223: 1. Enter into pre-probable cause conciliation with Edward St. John and St. John Properties, Inc. prior to a finding of probable cause to believe. 2. Approve the proposed joint conciliation agreement as recommended in the General Counsel?s Report #2 dated February 25, 2011 subject to a revised civil penalty of $67,500. 3. Take no further action and close the file as to Robert Becker, Jeffrey Gish, Lawrence Maykrantz, Stanley Meros, H. Richard Williamson, and Gerard Wit. 4. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission failed by a vote of 3 -3 to: a) Find reason to believe that Edward St. John and St. John Properties, Inc. knowingly and willfully violated 2 U.S.C. §§ 441b(a) and 441f. b) Find reason to believe that Lawrence Maykrantz, Robert Becker, Jeffrey Gish, Stanley Meros, H. Richard Williamson, and Gerard Wit violated 2 U.S.C. §§ 441b(a) and 441f. c) Take no action at this time as to the Maryland Republican State Central Committee and Robert Christopher Rosenthal, in his official capacity as treasurer. d) Find no reason to believe that Steele for Maryland, Inc. and Elizabeth S. Rubin, in her official capacity as treasurer, violated 2 U.S.C. §§ 441b(a) and 441f and close the file as to it. e) Approve the Factual and Legal Analyses, as recommended in the First General Counsel?s Report dated March 18, 2010, subject to the minor revision(s) pursuant to the meeting discussion. f) Authorize the use of compulsory process as to all respondents and witnesses in this matter, including the issuance of appropriate interrogatories, document subpoenas, and deposition subpoenas, as necessary. g) Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission decided by a vote of 6 - 0 to: a) Find reason to believe that Edward St. John and St. John Properties, Inc. violated 2 U.S.C. §§ 441b(a) and 441f. b) Find reason to believe that Lawrence Maykrantz, Robert Becker, Jeffrey Gish, Stanley Meros, H. Richard Williamson, and Gerard Wit violated 2 U.S.C. §§ 441b(a) and 441f. c) Take no action at this time as to the Maryland Republican State Central Committee and Robert Christopher Rosenthal, in his official capacity as treasurer. d) Find no reason to believe that Steele for Maryland, Inc. and Elizabeth S. Rubin, in her official capacity as treasurer, violated 2 U.S.C. §§ 441b(a) and 441f and close the file as to it. e) Approve the appropriate Factual and Legal Analyses, subject to revisions pursuant to the meeting discussion, and direct the Office of General Counsel to informally circulate the revised Factual and Legal Analyses to the Commission. f) Authorize the use of compulsory process as to all respondents and witnesses in this matter, including the issuance of appropriate interrogatories, document subpoenas, and deposition subpoenas, as necessary. g) Approve the appropriate letters.