MUR #7274

RESPONDENTS: Internet Research Agency; Bystrov, Mikhail Ivanovich

COMPLAINANTS: Ryan, Paul S.; Common Cause

SUBJECT: Foreign Nationals; Other; Reporting

DISPOSITION: The Commission decided by a vote of 6-0 to:1. Close the file.2. Send the appropriate letters.
The Commission failed by a vote of 2-2 to:. . . REDACTED . . . .
The Commission failed by a vote of 3-3 to:a. Find reason to believe that the Russian Federation and the Internet Research Agency violated 52 U.S.C. § 30121(a)(1)(C) and 11 C.F.R.§ 110.20(f) by making prohibited foreign national expenditures and independent expenditures in connection with the influence campaign targeting the 2016 presidential election.b. Find reason to believe that the Russian Federation and the Internet Research Agency violated 52 U.S.C. § 30104(c) and 11 C.F.R. § 109.10(b) by failing to report independent expenditures in connection with the influence campaign. c. Find reason to believe that Donald J. Trump and Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. and Bradley T. Crate in his official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30121(a)(2) and 11 C.F.R. § 110.20(g) by knowingly soliciting, accepting or receiving an in-kind contribution from the Russian Federation in connection with Trump’s press conference statement.d. Find reason to believe that the Russian Federation violated 52 U.S.C.§ 30121(a)(1)(A) and 11 C.F.R. § 110.20(b) by making a prohibited in-kind contribution to Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. by expending resources to hack Clinton-related servers in response to Trump’s press conference statement.e. Find reason to believe that Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. and Bradley T. Crate in his official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C.§ 30121(a)(2) and 11 C.F.R. § 110.20(g) by knowingly soliciting a prohibited in-kind contribution from WikiLeaks.f. Find reason to believe that the Russian Federation made a prohibited in-kind foreign national contribution in violation of 52 U.S.C. § 30121(a)(1)(A) and 11 C.F.R. § 110.20(b).g. Find reason to believe that an Unknown Congressional Candidate knowingly solicited, accepted or received a prohibited in-kind foreign national contribution in violation of 52 U.S.C. § 30121(a)(2) and 11 C.F.R. § 110.20(g). h. Find reason to believe that Paul Manafort and Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. and Bradley T. Crate in his official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30114(b) and 11 C.F.R. § 113.1(g)(3) by transferring a campaign committee asset without charge.i. Find reason to believe that Paul Manafort and Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. and Bradley T. Crate in his official capacity as treasurer violated 52 U.S.C. § 30121(a)(2) and 11 C.F.R. § 110.20(g) by knowingly soliciting a prohibited in-kind foreign national contribution.j. Dismiss the allegation that Cambridge Analytica, LLC violated the Act by providing information to the Russian Federation.k. Take no further action as to the Russian Federation and the Internet Research Agency.l. Approve the Factual and Legal Analyses, as recommended in the First General Counsel’s Report dated February 23, 2021, subject to the edits circulated by Commissioner Weintraub’s Office on April 19, 2021 at 6:37 p.m.m. Authorize pre-probable cause conciliation with Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. and Bradley T. Crate in his official capacity as treasurer, Donald J. Trump, and Paul Manafort.n. Approve the Conciliation Agreements, as recommended in the First General Counsel’s Report dated February 23, 2021.o. Approve the appropriate letters.
The Commission decided by a vote of 4-2 to:a. Find reason to believe that the Unknown Congressional Candidate violated 52 U.S.C. § 30121(a) and 11 C.F.R. § 110.20(g).b. . . . REDACTED . . . .c. Dismiss the Russian Federation and Internet Research Agency pursuant to Heckler v. Chaney.d. Send the appropriate letters.e. Direct the Office of General Counsel to draft the appropriate Factual and Legal Analyses.
The Commission failed by a vote of 2-4 to:. . . REDACTED . . . .
The Commission decided by a vote of 6-0 to:a. Dismiss the allegation that Cambridge Analytica, LLC violated the Act by providing information to the Russian Federation.b. Approve the Factual and Legal Analysis that supported Item 6(a).
The Commission decided by a vote of 6-0 to:a. Close the file as to all respondents, except the unknown Congressional candidate.b. Issue appropriate letters.
The Commission failed by a vote of 3-3 to:a. Dismiss Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. and Bradley T. Crate in his official capacity as treasurer, Donald J. Trump, Cambridge Analytica, LLC, and Paul Manafort pursuant to the Commission’s prosecutorial discretion under Heckler v. Chaney.b. Send the appropriate letters.c. Revise the appropriate Factual and Legal Analyses.