MUR #7080

RESPONDENTS: Paul Babeu for Congress; Babeu, Paul Raymond; Marston, Christopher M.; Pinal County Sheriff's Office, Pinal County AZ

COMPLAINANT: Montague, Tyler

SUBJECT: Contributions; Reporting

DISPOSITION: The Commission decided by a vote of 5-0 to: a. Find no reason to believe that Pinal County Sheriff's Office made, and Paul Babeu, Paul Babeu for Congress and Chris Marston in his official capacity as treasurer accepted, an unreported and excessive in-kind contribution in the form of a coordinated mailer in violation of 52 U.S.C. §§ 30104(b), 30116(a)(1); 11 C.F.R. §§ 109.21(b), 104.13(a), 104.3, or 110.1(b). b. Adopt the Factual and Legal Analysis as recommended in the First General Counsel’s Report dated December 15, 2016, and as amended by the General Counsel’s Office on August 16, 2017, and further amended by Commissioner Weintraub as described at the table as to that portion.
The Commission failed by a vote of 2-3 to: a. Dismiss the potential violations by Paul Babeu under 52 U.S.C. §§ 30125(e)(1), (f)(1) or 11 C.F.R §§ 300.61, 300.71 regarding the use of nonfederal funds. b. Dismiss the allegation that Paul Babeu, Paul Babeu for Congress and Chris Marston in his official capacity as treasurer accepted an unreported in-kind contribution in the form of internet communications in violation of 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b)(3) or 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(a)(4). c. Adopt the rest of the edited Factual and Legal Analysis, as originally recommended in the First General Counsel’s Report dated December 15, 2016, and subsequently edited by the General Counsel’s Office on August 16, 2017. d. Approve the appropriate letters. e. Close the file.
The Commission failed by a vote of 3-2 to: a. Find no reason to believe Paul Babeu violated 52 U.S.C. §§ 30125(e)(1), (f)(1) or 11 C.F.R §§ 300.61, 300.71 regarding the use of nonfederal funds. b. Find no reason to believe the allegation that Paul Babeu, Paul Babeu for Congress and Chris Marston in his official capacity as treasurer accepted an unreported in-kind contribution in the form of internet communications in violation of 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b)(3) or 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(a)(4). c. Dismiss the allegation that respondents accepted an unreported in-kind contribution in the form of personal services of employees paid by the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office in violation of 52 U.S.C. § 30104(b)(3) or 11 C.F.R. § 104.3(a)(4). d. Approve the Factual and Legal Analysis as to these findings, as recommended in the First General Counsel’s Report dated December 15, 2016 and last amended and distributed by Commissioner Goodman’s Office on June 7, 2017.
The Commission decided by a vote of 5-0 to: a. Approve the appropriate letters. b. Close the file.