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Federal Election Commission | United States of America

MUR #6852

SPECIAL OPERATIONS FOR AMERICA, ET AL.

Summary

RESPONDENTS: Special Operations for America; Battle Plan Strategies; Continental Divide International, LLC; Hietala, Kaarlo; Kuney, Lorna; Zinke for Congress; Zinke, Ryan K.

COMPLAINANT: Montana State Democratic Central Committee (aka Montana Democratic Party)

SUBJECT: Contributions-Prohibited; Contributions-Limitations; Reporting

DISPOSITION: The Commission failed by a vote of 2-2 to: a. Find reason to believe that Special Operations for America and Kaarlo Hietala in his official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. §§ 30116(a)(1), 30118(a), and 30104(b). b. Find reason to believe that Zinke for Congress and Lorna Kuney in her official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. §§ 30116(f), 30118(a), and 30104(b). c. Find reason to believe that Ryan K. Zinke violated 52 U.S.C. §§ 30116(f) and 30118(a). d. Find reason to believe that Ryan K. Zinke violated 52 U.S.C. §§ 30102 and 30104 and 11 CFR §§ 101.1 and 101.3 by filing his Statement of Candidacy late and failing to report testing the waters expenses. e. Find reason to believe that Special Operations for America made prohibited contributions in connection with Ryan K. Zinke’s candidacy exploratory expenses. f. Direct the Office of General Counsel to draft an appropriate Factual and Legal Analysis consistent with these recommended findings, . . . REDACTED . . . g. Authorize the use of compulsory process, including the issuance of appropriate interrogatories, document subpoenas and deposition subpoenas, as necessary. h. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission decided by a vote of 4-0 to: a. Close the file. b. Send the appropriate letters.

Disposition

Disposition Penalty Respondent Citation
Dismissed-Other Zinke, Ryan K. 52 U.S.C. §30116(f)
52 U.S.C. §30118(a)
Battle Plan Strategies
Continental Divide International, LLC
Hietala, Kaarlo 52 U.S.C. §30104(b)
52 U.S.C. §30116(a)(1)
52 U.S.C. §30118(a)
Zinke for Congress 52 U.S.C. §30104(b)
52 U.S.C. §30116(f)
52 U.S.C. §30118(a)
Special Operations for America 52 U.S.C. §30104(b)
52 U.S.C. §30116(a)(1)
52 U.S.C. §30118(a)
Kuney, Lorna 52 U.S.C. §30104(b)
52 U.S.C. §30116(f)
52 U.S.C. §30118(a)

Documents

Type Date Document
Complaint, Responses, Designation of Counsel and Extensions of Time 09/04/2014 Response from Battle Plan Strategies 124 KB
08/26/2014 Response from Ryan Zinke for Congress, and Lorna Kuney, Treasurer 364 KB
08/26/2014 Response from Special Operations for America and Scott Hommel in his official capacity as treasurer 124 KB
08/25/2014 Response from Continental Divide International, LLC 50 KB
07/30/2014 Grant of Extension of Time to Zinke for Congress, Lorna Kuney and Ryan K. Zinke 27 KB
07/30/2014 Designation of Counsel from Zinke for Congress and Ryan Zinke 89 KB
07/25/2014 Grant of Extension of Time to Continental Divide International, LLC 27 KB
07/25/2014 Request for Extension of Time from Zinke for Congress 31 KB
07/24/2014 Designation of Counsel and Request for Extension of Time from Continental Divide International, LLC 74 KB
07/23/2014 Designation of Counsel from Zinke for Congress 47 KB
07/22/2014 Grant of Extension of Time to Special Operations for America and Scott Hommel in his official capacity as treasurer 27 KB
07/18/2014 Request for Extension of Time from Special Operations for America and Scott Hommel in his official capacity as treasurer 33 KB
07/09/2014 Notification of Complaint to Battle Plan Strategies 65 KB
07/09/2014 Notification of Complaint to Ryan K. Zinke 64 KB
07/09/2014 Notification to Continental Divide International, LLC 65 KB
07/09/2014 Notification of Complaint to Zinke for Congress and Lorna Kuney in her official capacity as treasurer 67 KB
07/09/2014 Notification of Complaint to Special Operations for America and Scott Hommel in his official capacity as treasurer 69 KB
06/30/2014 Complaint 405 KB
General Counsel Reports, Briefs, Notifications and Responses 03/28/2019 Notification to Montana Democrats 53 KB
03/28/2019 Notification to Special Operations for America and Kaarlo Hietala in his official capacity as treasurer 34 KB
03/28/2019 Notification to Zinke for Congress and Lorna Kuney as treasurer and Ryan K. Zinke 42 KB
03/28/2019 Notification to Battle Plan Strategies 29 KB
03/28/2019 Notification to Continental Divide, LLC 29 KB
09/11/2017 First General Counsel's Report 2 MB
Certifications 03/19/2019 Special Operations for America and Kaarlo Hietala in his official capacity as treasurer; Zinke for Congress and Lorna Kuney in her official capacity as treasurer; Ryan K. Zinke; Continental Divide, LLC; Battle Plan Strategies 62 KB
Statement of Reasons 05/28/2019 Vice Chairman Matthew S. Petersen and Commissioner Caroline C. Hunter 100 KB

Participants

Relationship Name
Primary respondent Special Operations for America
Previous respondent Battle Plan Strategies
Continental Divide International, LLC
Hietala, Kaarlo
Kuney, Lorna
Zinke for Congress
Zinke, Ryan K.
Complainant Montana State Democratic Central Committee (aka Montana Democratic Party)
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